Exquisite Antarctica

Port Lockroy is a natural harbour on the Antarctic Peninsula of the British Antarctic Territory. Originally discovered in 1903 by a French Antarctic expedition, the port was named 'Port LaCroix' after Edouard LaCroix who helped finance the expedition. Over the years Port Lockroy found use as an anchorage by whalers and in 1944 became …

Today is our last in Antarctica, before we head north out of the South Shetland islands and back to the Drake Passage. The wind picks up rather quickly and our excursion to Aitcho Island becomes rather difficult. I hike the entire circumference of the island, sad to be leaving the seals, penguins and sea birds. Boris tells me that the wind has …

There was programming today. I know there was. My trip notes say that there were presentations on Shackleton & the Endurance, the Whales & Seals of the Antarctic, Scott's Fatal Journey, and the structure of sea ice. There was also a movie shown. However, I participated in none of this because I was in bed. I read, I received visitors …

Today, I feel like a human. I attend breakfast, though I don't have much of an appetite. I watch a documentary film called Rounding the Horn, I spend time on the bridge watching seabirds, I finish another book and watch as Cape Horn goes by. This evening, we enjoy a fabulous Captain's Dinner with bison and crab and enjoy our last evening …

We disembark the ship after breakfast this morning with memories and photos that will be cherished. My wildlife highlights were seeing Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Orca Whales, Arnoux Beaked Whales and Macaroni Penguins. The beaked whale was extremely rare. One of the biologists remarked that the species had probably never been photographed in …

I repeat the same process this time, except in reverse. Buenos Aires - Mexico City - Los Angeles - Seattle - Missoula. I arrive home at midnight and realize that I have to work tomorrow. I should have planned an extra day in between to decompress, but will have to rally for two weeks of missed calls and emails. Antarctica, where are you? I already …