After long days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, and finally the South Orkneys, we finally had a chance to recuperate with a day at sea. It has been an incredible trip already, and we haven’t even made it to South Georgia yet. On this sea day, we slept in and enjoyed the serenity of the waves passing our windows. Today’s weather was characteristic of the mighty Southern Ocean: wind, fog, some snow, and a gentle swell that kept us on our toes. Our transit from the South Orkneys to South Georgia is along a path known as Iceberg Alley. We passed mighty bergs caught in the Weddell Gyre and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as we pushed towards South Georgia. Our iceberg companions were not the only other travelers; undaunted by the snow, pelagic seabirds such as white-chinned petrels and Antarctic prions glided and flitted over the whitecaps. They took advantage of the winds that let them fly effortlessly with barely a wingbeat.
As we watched these stunning sights, we also looked inward to the Circle of Truth, where our natural history staff presented on what we have seen, past experiences, and what is yet to come. In the afternoon, we prepared our gear for South Georgia, a pristine place with few invasive species. To keep it that way, we dedicated ourselves to bio-decontaminating our gear, removing any plant matter, mud, or other debris. We are privileged to visit a place as special as South Georgia. We have a responsibility to protect it so the native flora and fauna can continue to thrive.
As night fell, we gathered for a cocktail, a fabulous dinner, and an early night as we looked forward to reaching South Georgia tomorrow.
