We’re finally coming to the end of our amazing journey, and it’s time to rest and reflect on the experiences of the past several days. Entering the Drake Passage gives us time to breathe, rest, and download both our photos and our experiences. For some of us, it means some extra time in the cabin to rest and let ourselves be subdued by the motion of the sea.
There’s also a sense of sadness as we look back over our photos and see how much we’ve achieved over these busy few days and how many new friends we’ve met. There’s lots to take in, and what we’ve learned over the last few days is already inspiring us to plan our next adventures.
Just before 9 a.m. today, we passed over the Antarctic Convergence Zone as we headed north. This region was marked by foggy conditions, light snow, and an increase in sea surface temperature by a few degrees.
With lots of interesting talks, the day passed very quickly. From the Bridge, there were several encounters with marine birds and mammals, including fin whales and a few species of beaked whale—and to think we still have another full day to experience and soak up aboard National Geographic Explorer!
