This morning a dense fog covered our little piece of planet earth, dampening more than the decks of National Geographic Explorer. We were all excited about visiting this landing site after our expedition leader Jimmy had given us such rave reviews of the place. It would be, after all, one of the few places we could see all three species of brush-tailed penguins in one place. He had also talked about the incredible beauty of the bay, packed with icebergs of magnificent grandeur. His voice over the PA at breakfast was hopeful as he announced that we would spend our morning listening to a couple lectures and hope that the fog would lift in time for us to venture out after lunch. With an almost clairvoyant ability he was right on the money as we watched the sky and the view clear before our eyes during our mid-day meal.
2/28/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.
