South America - part 9

Tuesday 20^th January - Antarctica day 3

I woke to snow-covered decks and a grey but clearing sky. The plan to pick up people from the Palmer Station to give a presentation to us had to be abandoned as the winds were too strong for them to make it to the ship in their zodiac. As we were up at 5.30am we were able to have breakfast before heading out to the open decks. The sky slowly changed from grey to blue with fluffy clouds. Flocks of Cape Petrels and an Antarctic Tern followed the ship.

Sleeping humpback whales

A pair of humpback whales were sleeping on the surface off the starboard beam. Few others seemed to notice them. The rest of the early part of the morning was spent dodging in and out to take photos of the spectacular scenery but as it cleared we stayed put on Deck 6 again.

At one point a Snowy Sheathbill landed on the foredeck and started marching round people's legs totally unafraid as it looked for food (it was unlucky but got a drink of melted snow instead)

 

Then the whale sightings started - many close to the ship. Family pods of two or three swimming together, diving right under the bow and, thankfully up the other side. One pair surfaced so close, that the bridge announced they were taking avoiding action!

 

We also saw a pod of three or four killer whales or orca - another tick on my bucket list as they powered up from under the bow and sped off on the starboard side. Again, not many people were lucky enough to spot them! We passed a few penguin rookeries as well as a group on an iceflow.

 

I also saw couple of avalanches, the ice and snow breaking off with a sound like thunder.

 

By 2pm we were heading out of the sheltered waters of the Peninsular and out to sea. As we bade farewell to Antarctica, it gradually became very windy with increasingly lumpy seas. I took a pill and went to Chris Wilson's lecture on Antarctic wildlife. When he said he was surprised we hadn't seen any orcas, four hands went up including mine, to say yes - we had!

 

Went to the cabin for a doze before changing for dinner, after which I won $10 in the Casino, show, bed.