Neko Harbor and Port Lockroy, Antarctica
Crisp, sharp, crystal blue skies greeted us this morning as we approached Neko Harbor, an intimate inlet into the Antarctic Peninsula. Surrounded by mountains and with its back to glaciers, this is the site of a small Argentine refuge hut and a colony of gentoo penguins. Here, we could stretch our legs, climbing hundreds of feet up to a nunatak, a rock outcropping surrounded by the glacier. A huge panorama expanded before us. Calving glaciers and avalanches boomed and echoed. An Antarctic Minke whale breeched repeatedly off of Endeavour’s starboard side. Below us, friends in red jackets were parked around the perimeter of the penguins, observing and enjoying life in the colony.
The short shuttle back to the mother ship turned into a highlight as a Minke whale surfaced repeatedly alongside Endeavour and to our great delight, seemed to play around our Zodiacs. It came next to, behind, in front and under our boats! Geologist Jason Kelley took this photo from the bow. You can see the whale swimming through Endeavour’s shadow.
Taking advantage of the spectacular weather, we took the scenic route to Port Lockroy, passing by the unequalled views of Paradise Bay.
The great French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot named Port Lockroy a century ago. In 1944, the British government instituted the top secret “Operation Tabarin,” creating a series of stations in Antarctica. Base A, at Port Lockroy was the first. Closed in 1962, the station fell into severe disrepair. Dave Burkitt, currently sailing as Endeavour’s historian, was instrumental in rehabilitating Base A, which now serves as a museum and Antarctica’s only public post office. We deposited hundreds of post cards here to be stamped and cancelled in Antarctica. Kayaks were put into the water, giving us an opportunity to explore coves and shorelines.
Joining us for recap and dinner were Port Lockroy’s crew, Pete, Dave and Rick, who eventually headed back to shore as we raised our anchor and headed for Deception Island and more adventures.
Crisp, sharp, crystal blue skies greeted us this morning as we approached Neko Harbor, an intimate inlet into the Antarctic Peninsula. Surrounded by mountains and with its back to glaciers, this is the site of a small Argentine refuge hut and a colony of gentoo penguins. Here, we could stretch our legs, climbing hundreds of feet up to a nunatak, a rock outcropping surrounded by the glacier. A huge panorama expanded before us. Calving glaciers and avalanches boomed and echoed. An Antarctic Minke whale breeched repeatedly off of Endeavour’s starboard side. Below us, friends in red jackets were parked around the perimeter of the penguins, observing and enjoying life in the colony.
The short shuttle back to the mother ship turned into a highlight as a Minke whale surfaced repeatedly alongside Endeavour and to our great delight, seemed to play around our Zodiacs. It came next to, behind, in front and under our boats! Geologist Jason Kelley took this photo from the bow. You can see the whale swimming through Endeavour’s shadow.
Taking advantage of the spectacular weather, we took the scenic route to Port Lockroy, passing by the unequalled views of Paradise Bay.
The great French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot named Port Lockroy a century ago. In 1944, the British government instituted the top secret “Operation Tabarin,” creating a series of stations in Antarctica. Base A, at Port Lockroy was the first. Closed in 1962, the station fell into severe disrepair. Dave Burkitt, currently sailing as Endeavour’s historian, was instrumental in rehabilitating Base A, which now serves as a museum and Antarctica’s only public post office. We deposited hundreds of post cards here to be stamped and cancelled in Antarctica. Kayaks were put into the water, giving us an opportunity to explore coves and shorelines.
Joining us for recap and dinner were Port Lockroy’s crew, Pete, Dave and Rick, who eventually headed back to shore as we raised our anchor and headed for Deception Island and more adventures.