Lemaire Channel, Petermann & Berthelot Islands
Now we are in the postcard many of us imagined Antarctica to be. With a layer of snow on the deck of the National Geographic Endeavour and more soft flakes gently falling, we bundled up for a morning transit through the scenic Lemaire Channel.
We found leopard seals snoozing on the bobbing ice floes, which our Captain skillfully maneuvered around so we could all have a good look. Later in the morning we landed at Petermann Island, blanketed in fresh falling snow, sprinkled with a generous helping of nesting Gentoo penguins and a diminishing smattering of nesting Adelie penguins. A leopard seal patrolled the island’s icy fringes, seeming to play a game of hide-and-eat with the penguins departing for, or arriving from, their latest foraging forays.
In the early evening a pair of humpback whales presented a most dynamic and colorful display. The distinctive patterns of their black and white flukes were preserved in pixels by numerous photographers. The white pattern of their pectoral fins glowed turquoise viewed through a filter of sea water. And most surprisingly, a plume of red blossomed behind the pair as they swam across our bow, proof of the abundance of the krill they had, and continued, to feed upon.
We all came to Antarctica with different expectations and pre-conceived ideas of what Antarctica “should be” like. Today, we experienced a diversity of landscapes, weather, ice and wildlife. We would now like to share the inspired writings from some of our younger travelers.
Black and White
by Sloane Garelick, age 13
Lifeless penguin bones and fluffy grey penguin chicks.
Frigid Southern Ocean and steaming hot springs.
Salty bitter sea water and pure sweet glacier streams.
Penguins’ stinky pink snow trails and glistening sculpted pale blue icebergs.
Rough Drake Passage and tranquil sapphire harbor.
Deception Island black gravel and snow white glacier mountains.
Fancy Bow Tie Penguins
by Laurel Jaffe, age 10
Black and furry marching down, one by one. They go in order now. Slow, but steady we see them marching on the snow, as if they weren’t cold. The sun still lit, but it’s our time to go. We climb the Zodiacs and file our way home.
Penguins everywhere, both black and white
Escaping leopard seals, and saving their young
Nesting till their young grow
Growing up and learning to live on their own
Under the water a penguin swims, hoping to find their next big meal
Icebergs to rest on, and water to swim in
Never lazy, always alert for predators
Skuas eyeing their next fresh meal
Two Limericks
contributed by Kevin Ryan
The leopard seal is a dangerous beast
And on penguins they do like to feast
They turn them inside-out
And shake them about
Until their delectable guts are released.
The photographer is particularly unique
It can zoom in on a single petrels’ beak
Their lenses are long
And they sing little songs
As they sit developing pictures for weeks.
The Frozen Wonder
by Russell Jaffe, age 13
Antarctica! The name is legendary. Now, for a full week and a half, the Jaffe family of New Canaan, CT has had a chance to explore this mystical land guided by Lindblad Expeditions. One hundred and fourteen people are on an expedition in this mysterious land. With our trip now halfway over, we have landed on the continent twice, swam in Antarctic waters and discovered all sorts of life that would never appear in zoos. With Christmas only two more days away, we will soon find out whether Santa can really fly to the ends of the Earth. Antarctica.
Now we are in the postcard many of us imagined Antarctica to be. With a layer of snow on the deck of the National Geographic Endeavour and more soft flakes gently falling, we bundled up for a morning transit through the scenic Lemaire Channel.
We found leopard seals snoozing on the bobbing ice floes, which our Captain skillfully maneuvered around so we could all have a good look. Later in the morning we landed at Petermann Island, blanketed in fresh falling snow, sprinkled with a generous helping of nesting Gentoo penguins and a diminishing smattering of nesting Adelie penguins. A leopard seal patrolled the island’s icy fringes, seeming to play a game of hide-and-eat with the penguins departing for, or arriving from, their latest foraging forays.
In the early evening a pair of humpback whales presented a most dynamic and colorful display. The distinctive patterns of their black and white flukes were preserved in pixels by numerous photographers. The white pattern of their pectoral fins glowed turquoise viewed through a filter of sea water. And most surprisingly, a plume of red blossomed behind the pair as they swam across our bow, proof of the abundance of the krill they had, and continued, to feed upon.
We all came to Antarctica with different expectations and pre-conceived ideas of what Antarctica “should be” like. Today, we experienced a diversity of landscapes, weather, ice and wildlife. We would now like to share the inspired writings from some of our younger travelers.
Black and White
by Sloane Garelick, age 13
Lifeless penguin bones and fluffy grey penguin chicks.
Frigid Southern Ocean and steaming hot springs.
Salty bitter sea water and pure sweet glacier streams.
Penguins’ stinky pink snow trails and glistening sculpted pale blue icebergs.
Rough Drake Passage and tranquil sapphire harbor.
Deception Island black gravel and snow white glacier mountains.
Fancy Bow Tie Penguins
by Laurel Jaffe, age 10
Black and furry marching down, one by one. They go in order now. Slow, but steady we see them marching on the snow, as if they weren’t cold. The sun still lit, but it’s our time to go. We climb the Zodiacs and file our way home.
Penguins everywhere, both black and white
Escaping leopard seals, and saving their young
Nesting till their young grow
Growing up and learning to live on their own
Under the water a penguin swims, hoping to find their next big meal
Icebergs to rest on, and water to swim in
Never lazy, always alert for predators
Skuas eyeing their next fresh meal
Two Limericks
contributed by Kevin Ryan
The leopard seal is a dangerous beast
And on penguins they do like to feast
They turn them inside-out
And shake them about
Until their delectable guts are released.
The photographer is particularly unique
It can zoom in on a single petrels’ beak
Their lenses are long
And they sing little songs
As they sit developing pictures for weeks.
The Frozen Wonder
by Russell Jaffe, age 13
Antarctica! The name is legendary. Now, for a full week and a half, the Jaffe family of New Canaan, CT has had a chance to explore this mystical land guided by Lindblad Expeditions. One hundred and fourteen people are on an expedition in this mysterious land. With our trip now halfway over, we have landed on the continent twice, swam in Antarctic waters and discovered all sorts of life that would never appear in zoos. With Christmas only two more days away, we will soon find out whether Santa can really fly to the ends of the Earth. Antarctica.
