Smooth Crossing On The Drake Aboard Clipper Adventurer

29 Jan 2009

Smooth Crossing On The Drake Aboard Clipper Adventurer

By Blog.Admin

27 January 2009

The start of this voyage aboard Clipper Adventurer could not have been scripted any better. After a wonderfully smooth crossing of the Drake Passage we awoke in Antarctica on day 3 to the sight of towering peaks and immense glaciers cascading into the sea. Our expedition leader Laurie Dexter had set a demanding schedule for the day. Everyone was up by 5.30am. After a hurried breakfast we took to the zodiacs and headed for the southern side of Orne Harbour which lie son the northwest side of the Arctowski Peninsula near the northern entrance to the Errera Channel. Some folks took a hike to the top of a precipitous snow slope to take in views of the Gerlache Strait and admire Chinstrap Penguins nesting at the summit. Others decided a more leisurely start to the day was in order and took to the zodiacs for a cruise around the harbour taking in the wildlife and glacier fronts. However, everyone landed initially as this was the first time all on board had set foot on the Antarctic continent.

We were back on board the ship by 8.30 and made for the Neumayer Channel. Along the way we encountered two pairs of Humpback Whales. The day had started out fairly overcast but as we approached the entrance to the Neumayer Channel the clouds started to burn off to reveal the channel in all its majesty. A couple of more whales later we eased into Arthur Harbour on the southwest coast of Anvers Island to visit Palmer Station, a US research station named after the sealer Nathaniel Palmer. On the way in we passed a Leopard Seal sunning itself on an iceberg.

We were treated to small group tours of the base and while some took the tours, others landed on nearby Torgerson Island to admire the antics of the Adelie Penguin colony. Near fully-grown chicks chased their parents all over the place begging for a little regurgitated krill or fish, others splashed about playfully, only a few minded their own business. Nearby Elephant Seals and a lazy Leopard basked in the sun and Giant Petrels splashed about.

The ship was abuzz with chatter after a wonderful afternoon. We had an early dinner to allow us to be out on deck in time to pass through the legendary Lemaire Channel. Before we entered the channel we encountered more whales taking the total of whale sightings for the day into double figures. As we entered the narrower section of the Lemaire Channel the light had taken on a golden hue. A more magical view is not possible to imagine than the Lemaire Channel bathed in late evening light. We eased through the channel at snails pace to soak up the atmosphere. At the very end of the channel it narrows so much that you can feel like you can reach out and touch the sheer rock faces of the mountains surrounding the ship.

The wildlife took time out from their busy schedules to admire the view as well with Leopard and Weddell Seals hauled out on a berg at the end of the channel and a lone humpback whale splashing playfully alongside the ship as the sun sank below the horizon.

The day was even more special for some with an engagement, a 48th wedding anniversary and a birthday all celebrated on the day!

David Sinclair

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royal
Hell yeah!
Submitted by royal on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 06:28.

Hell yeah!


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