Neko Harbor & Port Lockroy
Snowcapped peaks sparkled and glowed in the high morning sun, greeting the National Geographic Explorer with yet another sunny, warm, calm day in Antarctica. A landing was made at a Gentoo penguin colony situated next to a glacier in Neko Harbor. The Captain “anchored” the ship with the bulbous bow into the shallow gravel near the beach while Gentoo penguins flew through the water all around us. Most made the hike up the snow slope to gain a beautiful panoramic view of the colony, ship, mountains, fjord, and glacier. The warm weather and sunshine continued with us while we made our way to our afternoon destination.
Port Lockroy, a former British base, was a working research station until 1964. Now a museum, we were able to see the rooms just as they would have been when it was a functioning station. Knit woolen long-johns hung over a clothes line and wooden skis stood in the corner. Some toured the museum and took the opportunity to do some Antarctic shopping and mail a postcard while others kayaked around the rocky, snow covered islands. Still others enjoyed close up looks at more nesting Gentoo penguins, Arctic Terns, and Antarctic Cormorants on Jougla Island. Jougla, located just a few hundred meters behind Port Lockroy’s island of Goudier, was the former site of a whale processing operation. Resting in the snow and on the rocky beach were the bones of a Blue Whale. Photo opportunities abounded.
After much shuttling of small groups of people from here and there, back and forth, from Jougla Island, to Goudier Island, and to a kayak platform floating in the harbor, everyone found their way back to the ship. A few extra people also found their way to the ship. The friendly folks working at the museum joined us on board for re-cap and dinner and a chance for a hot shower. Even though the wind kicked up in the late afternoon, and the clouds finally and inevitably moved in, everyone thoroughly enjoyed yet another day in the frozen South.
Snowcapped peaks sparkled and glowed in the high morning sun, greeting the National Geographic Explorer with yet another sunny, warm, calm day in Antarctica. A landing was made at a Gentoo penguin colony situated next to a glacier in Neko Harbor. The Captain “anchored” the ship with the bulbous bow into the shallow gravel near the beach while Gentoo penguins flew through the water all around us. Most made the hike up the snow slope to gain a beautiful panoramic view of the colony, ship, mountains, fjord, and glacier. The warm weather and sunshine continued with us while we made our way to our afternoon destination.
Port Lockroy, a former British base, was a working research station until 1964. Now a museum, we were able to see the rooms just as they would have been when it was a functioning station. Knit woolen long-johns hung over a clothes line and wooden skis stood in the corner. Some toured the museum and took the opportunity to do some Antarctic shopping and mail a postcard while others kayaked around the rocky, snow covered islands. Still others enjoyed close up looks at more nesting Gentoo penguins, Arctic Terns, and Antarctic Cormorants on Jougla Island. Jougla, located just a few hundred meters behind Port Lockroy’s island of Goudier, was the former site of a whale processing operation. Resting in the snow and on the rocky beach were the bones of a Blue Whale. Photo opportunities abounded.
After much shuttling of small groups of people from here and there, back and forth, from Jougla Island, to Goudier Island, and to a kayak platform floating in the harbor, everyone found their way back to the ship. A few extra people also found their way to the ship. The friendly folks working at the museum joined us on board for re-cap and dinner and a chance for a hot shower. Even though the wind kicked up in the late afternoon, and the clouds finally and inevitably moved in, everyone thoroughly enjoyed yet another day in the frozen South.
