After departing Ushuaia, Argentina and transiting eastward through the Beagle Channel yesterday evening, we have, like the albatross, cast our fortunes to the wind and the waves far from the sight of land. Although we cannot shed our land-based habits as easily as those elegantly adapted seabirds, we trust the ship and crew to carry us away from encumbrances and away from daily concerns. We are moving toward adventure and experience in places far removed from our daily milieu as we travel almost due east, directly to the island of South Georgia. We are in search of wildlife and wild landscapes. A unique bit of mountain range rises directly out of the sea, where cold Antarctic waters intrude into the South Atlantic Ocean. Our journey will take several days, giving us time to adapt to shipboard life and prepare ourselves for the adventure ahead as we enjoy the comfortable embrace of National Geographic Resolution.
3/9/2023
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National Geographic Resolution
Approaching Ushuaia
Any true voyage contains the element of return. As we approached South America, we reflected on our voyage thus far. Nearly three weeks ago, we cast our lines from Ushuaia and sailed towards the seventh continent. We saw corners of the world privy only to a few…truly special experiences that we will hold close for our lifetimes. Seabirds circled the ship, coming in and out of our wake to pay visits. These beautiful animals wander the ocean. They are at home at sea, an alien concept to us terrestrial animals. As the day progressed, the landscape began to unravel. Snowy peaks in the distance eventually gave way to a forested landscape, quite a shock as we had not seen proper trees in weeks! For our final wildlife encounter, we spent time with a group of killer whales. Our incredible ship and bridge team allowed close and personal views of these amazing animals. Aboard the ship, we hosted presentations with topics on photography and how to take observations from our voyage and share them with the scientific community. The hotel department pampered us with delicious treats. Our much-anticipated auction was a lively hit, raising money for our crew fund and conservation on South Georgia. In the afternoon, we met our pilots on the eastern edge of the Beagle Channel. Under their guidance, we will be dockside in a few hours, the same location we departed from three weeks ago. It feels like a lifetime has passed, bursting with countless memories. Memories we look forward to taking home with us and sharing with our loved ones and the world.
