Cape Horn & Ushuaia
I am the albatross who awaits you
At the end of the earth.
I am the forgotten soul of the dead mariners
Who rounded Cape Horn
From all the seas of the world.
But they did not perish
In the furious waves.
Today they fly on my wings for all eternity
In the ultimate embrace
Of the Antarctic winds.
Sara Vial, December 1992
Cape Horn came looming into view just after breakfast and, with pods of leaping Peale’s Dolphins cavorting on the bow, we headed into the sheltered waters of the Beagle Channel. Bittersweet feelings passed over many of us – the sweetness of safe passage across the tumultuous Drake Passage – the sadness of knowing our fine voyage will soon come to a close. For us, the Oceanites researchers who spent many fantastic days camping among the penguins at Petermann Island, returning home on Endeavour is equally bittersweet. Our 5-year study at Petermann is complete, and though we look forward to rejoining our colleagues and continuing our work aboard National Geographic Endeavour in years to come, we will all miss the time we had camping in the remote wilderness of the Antarctic.
Our last day at sea was an opportunity to say goodbye to some of the seabirds that we’ve learned so much about. Our efforts were rewarded with fabulous sightings of Sooty Shearwaters, White-Chinned Petrels, Southern Giant Petrels, Imperial Shags, Black Browed Albatrosses, and the tiny Wilson’s Storm Petrel. At day’s end, we came together at the Captain’s Dinner to enjoy a final meal with our old and new friends sharing favorite memories of our time together on National Geographic Endeavour.
I am the albatross who awaits you
At the end of the earth.
I am the forgotten soul of the dead mariners
Who rounded Cape Horn
From all the seas of the world.
But they did not perish
In the furious waves.
Today they fly on my wings for all eternity
In the ultimate embrace
Of the Antarctic winds.
Sara Vial, December 1992
Cape Horn came looming into view just after breakfast and, with pods of leaping Peale’s Dolphins cavorting on the bow, we headed into the sheltered waters of the Beagle Channel. Bittersweet feelings passed over many of us – the sweetness of safe passage across the tumultuous Drake Passage – the sadness of knowing our fine voyage will soon come to a close. For us, the Oceanites researchers who spent many fantastic days camping among the penguins at Petermann Island, returning home on Endeavour is equally bittersweet. Our 5-year study at Petermann is complete, and though we look forward to rejoining our colleagues and continuing our work aboard National Geographic Endeavour in years to come, we will all miss the time we had camping in the remote wilderness of the Antarctic.
Our last day at sea was an opportunity to say goodbye to some of the seabirds that we’ve learned so much about. Our efforts were rewarded with fabulous sightings of Sooty Shearwaters, White-Chinned Petrels, Southern Giant Petrels, Imperial Shags, Black Browed Albatrosses, and the tiny Wilson’s Storm Petrel. At day’s end, we came together at the Captain’s Dinner to enjoy a final meal with our old and new friends sharing favorite memories of our time together on National Geographic Endeavour.
