Stiff winds carry us towards mainland South America. Hundreds of shearwaters and albatross take advantage of the breeze and swirl around us, showing off their aerial mastery. Despite the seas, National Geographic Resolution slices effortlessly towards the Beagle Channel. Soon after we raise Argentina to our starboard, the ocean begins to subside, allowing us to carry out our last programs and presentations aboard. As the afternoon progresses, we take in the incredible landscape we left a mere three-weeks ago. We’ve seen incredible places and things, and Tierra del Fuego only adds to that list. Filled with stories and memories, we wrap up our voyage with festivities aboard and reflect on the truly incredible experiences we’ve had together. Though our voyage was several weeks, we’ll be sharing it for the rest of our lives.
With determination and a pinch of sorcery, expedition leader Bud Lehnhausen somehow found some great weather where lousy weather was forecast. On a day when the possibility of any landing was uncertain, we managed two! New Island is on the very west edge of the Falklands Archipelago, and there are two harbors on the east side that offer great protection from the swells of the Southern Ocean. With sandy beaches and rolling hills, the island offers a great diversity of wildlife and scenery. Highlights of our two landings included gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins, black-browed albatross, and a good variety of ducks, geese, and shore birds. Tonight, we head west across the Southern Ocean towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia.
There’s always a sense of adventure when exploring a new destination. The islands of George, Barren, and Speedwell are all owned by the May family, and no one aboard had ever visited them. Early in the morning, we met the owner, Chris. After seeing just a sample of what he was going to share with us, we knew it was going to be a wonderful day. A suite of wildlife, including penguins, dolphins, and an endemic wren, were just a fraction of the animals we encountered while about on the islands. Chris shared with us about sheepherding and shearing, showing us a glimpse into what life is like on a remote island in the Falklands. Returning to our ship right before the weather deteriorated, we settled in for a cozy night aboard and with excitement about our final day in the Falklands.
