The Drake Passage
There are always treasures at the end of the rainbow. Sometimes one has to look a little harder for the riches but the gift will be there.
Confusion swirled in our minds this morning when land still embraced our vessel. Where was the dreaded Drake Passage? Were we not headed to Antarctica? The wake-up call cleared up the mystery. An unplanned return to our starting point had delayed us and yet rewarded us as well. It certainly was the first time that the National Geographic Endeavour had transited the Beagle Channel three times in one night. So, there was a record set. And… by virtue of being still in protected waters we were introduced to the temperate zone penguins, the Magellanics, as they cruised the narrow channel where we were. Terns swirled about like snowflakes in the early morning light. Peale’s dolphins dashed to ride on our bow or surf in our wake.
Slowly long swells reached beneath us gently rocking our vessel. Little-by little the winds stirred the seas until white caps danced upon the waves. Seabirds swirled within a rainbow’s arch seemingly celebrating the strength of the wind. Some of us slept. Some read. Some inhaled offered knowledge. But all took time to stare out at the vastness of this ocean, to sense the movement beneath our feet, to savor the feel of the wind on our faces and to taste the salty spray.
There are always treasures at the end of the rainbow. Sometimes one has to look a little harder for the riches but the gift will be there.
Confusion swirled in our minds this morning when land still embraced our vessel. Where was the dreaded Drake Passage? Were we not headed to Antarctica? The wake-up call cleared up the mystery. An unplanned return to our starting point had delayed us and yet rewarded us as well. It certainly was the first time that the National Geographic Endeavour had transited the Beagle Channel three times in one night. So, there was a record set. And… by virtue of being still in protected waters we were introduced to the temperate zone penguins, the Magellanics, as they cruised the narrow channel where we were. Terns swirled about like snowflakes in the early morning light. Peale’s dolphins dashed to ride on our bow or surf in our wake.
Slowly long swells reached beneath us gently rocking our vessel. Little-by little the winds stirred the seas until white caps danced upon the waves. Seabirds swirled within a rainbow’s arch seemingly celebrating the strength of the wind. Some of us slept. Some read. Some inhaled offered knowledge. But all took time to stare out at the vastness of this ocean, to sense the movement beneath our feet, to savor the feel of the wind on our faces and to taste the salty spray.
