After two days of blustery weather, today was a welcome respite. We awoke to Mt. Erebus, half revealed, and Scott’s hut dressed in white snow.
After repositioning the ship into an ice channel carved initially by an American ship, we lowered the penguin deck ramp. Many had a welcome stroll across much kinder sea ice than we had experienced in recent days. I opted to stay on board, the peach and lavender colored sky enticed me to photograph from the ship, with Minke whales doing laps back and forth in the now open channel.
I heard tale of a lone, adult Emperor penguin who arrived on the ice looking ready to embark on his yearly catastrophic molt.
After an incredible sushi buffet lunch, we set off again and came across many type C killer whales patrolling along the ice edge. (These are the fish eaters.) It was decided that we would rapidly deploy the Zodiacs and cruise along the ice edge. What a treat that was! So many killer whales and Minkes, too. I must admit that the Minke stole the show for me.
I look forward to more adventures tomorrow as we slowly make our way north.
