Cape Horn
We woke this morning with the wind from the west at 15 knots, light rain with good visibility. It was a very good final day in the Drake Passage. Around 0400 this morning we crossed the Antarctic Convergence and it felt like we rapidly went from winter to summer with an air temp that increased from 35 degrees F of 50 F during the day.
In the wake of the ship we were followed by petrels and albatrosses with a few rain squalls passing us by. Around 0900 we saw a few whale blows far from the ship. Later in the morning we could see the silhouette of Cape Horn in the distance. Before we approached this famous landmark, Rod talked about training for working and living in Antarctica. When we approached Cape Horn, the seas calmed, and Mike with a passion for seabirds pointed out the different kinds flying about the ship. Later on during the day we approached the Beagle Channel and the guests could actually smell the green forest of Patagonia.
After having done so many seasons as a staff member in Antarctica, I consider this voyage to have been a highly successful one with great weather and the chance to sail around majestic landscapes every day. We have also been able to see five species of penguins; killer, minke and humpback whales; all four species of seals. All this led to many smiles on the faces of our guests, which means that many of them have been infected with the polar fever. They will always have the longing to return to the Ice.
After picking up the pilot in the afternoon we arrived into Ushuaia, where we went for an after-dinner walk before our last night on the National Geographic Endeavour.
We woke this morning with the wind from the west at 15 knots, light rain with good visibility. It was a very good final day in the Drake Passage. Around 0400 this morning we crossed the Antarctic Convergence and it felt like we rapidly went from winter to summer with an air temp that increased from 35 degrees F of 50 F during the day.
In the wake of the ship we were followed by petrels and albatrosses with a few rain squalls passing us by. Around 0900 we saw a few whale blows far from the ship. Later in the morning we could see the silhouette of Cape Horn in the distance. Before we approached this famous landmark, Rod talked about training for working and living in Antarctica. When we approached Cape Horn, the seas calmed, and Mike with a passion for seabirds pointed out the different kinds flying about the ship. Later on during the day we approached the Beagle Channel and the guests could actually smell the green forest of Patagonia.
After having done so many seasons as a staff member in Antarctica, I consider this voyage to have been a highly successful one with great weather and the chance to sail around majestic landscapes every day. We have also been able to see five species of penguins; killer, minke and humpback whales; all four species of seals. All this led to many smiles on the faces of our guests, which means that many of them have been infected with the polar fever. They will always have the longing to return to the Ice.
After picking up the pilot in the afternoon we arrived into Ushuaia, where we went for an after-dinner walk before our last night on the National Geographic Endeavour.
