Neko Harbour
Today was our final day in the Antarctic, and it seemed as though the skies were weeping in sympathy. It was drizzling gently, but there was not a breath of wind, so despite getting rather soggy, we were perfectly happy. Once again there were a plethora of activities awaiting us. We could accompany the naturalists on a hike along the top of a glacier for a spectacular view of the surrounding bay, or we could simply sit and watch the delightful gentoo penguin chicks as they investigated the muddy puddles near their colony. We found their curiosity charming, and we were thrilled when a few of the youngsters came and tugged at our water-proof trousers. It was a magical experience to be surrounded by such trusting and inquisitive creatures. Some of us took advantage of our last chance to kayak. We watched the raindrops form never ending ripples on the glassy calm surface of the slate grey sea while the rest of us went exploring the bay in the Zodiacs. Some of us were fortunate enough to get a close look at a humpback whale while others saw a pod of 5 Minke whales. A handful of us were at the landing beach to witness a true spectacle of 'Polar Madness' as Dan Dion and Jordan Sprechman plunged into the freezing and brash-ice strewn water. They felt compelled to do it as they had decided, and regretted, not to swim in the geothermally-warmed water at Deception Island.
During the afternoonm we attended a talk by fellow guest, Jill Fredstone, who told us of her adventures whilst rowing in the Arctic. It was the humpback whales in the Gerlache Strait that gave us an unforgettable farewell. What an amazing sight it was to see one of these magnificent 40 tonne whales thrust its massive body almost clear out of the water.
Today was our final day in the Antarctic, and it seemed as though the skies were weeping in sympathy. It was drizzling gently, but there was not a breath of wind, so despite getting rather soggy, we were perfectly happy. Once again there were a plethora of activities awaiting us. We could accompany the naturalists on a hike along the top of a glacier for a spectacular view of the surrounding bay, or we could simply sit and watch the delightful gentoo penguin chicks as they investigated the muddy puddles near their colony. We found their curiosity charming, and we were thrilled when a few of the youngsters came and tugged at our water-proof trousers. It was a magical experience to be surrounded by such trusting and inquisitive creatures. Some of us took advantage of our last chance to kayak. We watched the raindrops form never ending ripples on the glassy calm surface of the slate grey sea while the rest of us went exploring the bay in the Zodiacs. Some of us were fortunate enough to get a close look at a humpback whale while others saw a pod of 5 Minke whales. A handful of us were at the landing beach to witness a true spectacle of 'Polar Madness' as Dan Dion and Jordan Sprechman plunged into the freezing and brash-ice strewn water. They felt compelled to do it as they had decided, and regretted, not to swim in the geothermally-warmed water at Deception Island.
During the afternoonm we attended a talk by fellow guest, Jill Fredstone, who told us of her adventures whilst rowing in the Arctic. It was the humpback whales in the Gerlache Strait that gave us an unforgettable farewell. What an amazing sight it was to see one of these magnificent 40 tonne whales thrust its massive body almost clear out of the water.
