From the National Geographic Explorer in South America

At sea entering Strait of Magellan

During our day at sea we prioritized our binomial virtual images from the previous few days and enjoyed the day’s presentations. Captain Jim Lovell shared with us some of the intricacies of Martian exploration during a presentation on the Curiosity Rover. We learned of the technological feats associated with safely landing a precision craft on a very Patagonian landscape (albeit with a thinner atmosphere and no rheas wandering the countryside). However, the most interesting bit of information from our on board astronaut was Captain Lovell’s detailed response to his most frequently asked question “How do you go to the toilet in space?” My guess is that the nervous laughter was mostly due to the fact that we were all thinking it but too shy to ask.

David and Steve shed light onto the formative years of Charles Darwin and the oft-overlooked Captain FitzRoy, both of whom will forever be linked to one another and to the waters we currently are cruising. The open expanses of Argentine Patagonia, rife with open skies and flat horizons, will soon be broken by sierras and the convolution of ancient ice-scarred coastlines. Our southbound adventure through geologic and historic time has been rudely interrupted by a sudden right-hand turn to the west. Tonight we head directly into the sunset and welcome the Strait of Magellan.