Approaching South America
Our second day in the Drake Passage heading north was brighter, calmer, and warmer than the previous. During the night the National Geographic Explorer had managed to head away from the rougher waters farther south and speed on towards the outer Chilean islands off the coast of Patagonia.
It was a good day to begin the process of packing, sharing photos, and telling stories of our great expedition to Antarctica. There was also time for a presentation from Steve Maclean on polar climate change and a chance to take a group photo. You can see by all the smiling and energetic faces that this was a Once in a Lifetime Expedition that we all enjoyed and can’t wait to tell our friends and family about back home.
Right after lunch, the sharp eyes on the bridge found a group of long finned pilot whales making their way south. The 50 or so animals were running along the continental shelf in search of squid and other aquatic treats.
Later in the afternoon, the ship was safely in the Beagle Channel and on approach to the Argentinean pilot station. From there, we made a leisurely passage westward towards Ushuaia from where our expedition began.
