Itinerary
- Cross the Antarctic Converge
- Spend some time on the Bridge
- See Shag Rock
- Get closer to South Georgia!
We are in some cold waters (the coldest actually) and the air temperature is matching it. Everything is just above freezing and we’ve got one very nice breeze kicking right now! The boat has become a see-saw. Anything that isn’t tied down is crashing on the floor and I have a feeling there will be plenty of seats at dinner.
I’m holding up pretty well, but that could change at an instant. The food is quite excellent for “sea food”, so I’m going to have a good portion and maybe get to taste it twice.
Sea days are boring compared to shore days, but we have had some highlights today. Watching the waves has been fun – they’re huge! Shooting them off in the distance does not do them justice, so I tried to get in close on a washing machine of chaos, as pictured below, to give it a little more scope.
Seas in the teens (footage-wise) create soaking wet photographers
Most of the day we haven’t seen many birds, but the closer we get to South Georgia we’re beginning to see them again…and in some abundance.
The other thing we’re beginning to see are icebergs. I’ve never seen one before and now I’ve seen a whole bunch! We got very close to a beautiful one. I’m holding a few of those images for when I get home, but here are two bergs.
My first Iceberg
These things are amazing, gorgeous, and treacherous up close
We’ve now passed Shag Rock, so we’re very close to South Georgia. It seems the weather is getting worse the closer we get, but we have definitely noticed the weather can change in a matter of minutes.
Definitions:
Antarctic Converge – a place in the Southern Ocean where the saline waters from the North meet the less salty waters from the South. It is a biological barrier similar to a mountain range that separates the Antarctic wildlife from the rest of the world. It is also a place full of mist and fog due to the differing water temperatures. Once one crosses it, the temperatures drop substantially.
Shag Rock – a series of rocks sticking out of the ocean where thousands of cormorants nest. It is a refuge for these birds amidst the Blue Desert.
