January 2, 2024

Wine Penguins & More:

Today was the highlight of the trip so far - we started the day in Holtedhal Bay on the Antartica Peninsula.  We enjoyed a helicopter tour of the bay with our pilot Scott, from South Africa.  Today was the first day in the season that conditions allowed for helicopter flights in this area, so he was very enthusiastic to explore and show us the sights in the area.  The flight was our first lift-off in a helicopter off a ship vessel.  The sights in Antartica are incredible from the ship and the zodiac's, but the view at 2,000 feet is unbelievable.  

The afternoon was a repositioning of the ship to Prospect Point where we again had the opportunity to land on the continent.  We were able to take pictures with the Antartica flag while walking on the shoreline.  Following this part of the adventure, we continued the zodiac excursion and witnessed our fourth variety of penguins - the Adélie penguin - note that this penguin has a dark, black beak.  We observed new hatchlings along with lots of penguins still incubating their eggs.  By the time we returned to the ship from our zodiac excursion, snow flurries were blowing in the breeze and the temperature is dropping - we have to remember this is summer in Antartica.  

Jim & Tami were able to step on the continent for the first time today as they missed the first chance while kayaking the time the rest of us landed on the Antartica continent for the first time, so now everybody has "stepped on" "The Bottom of the World". 

More to follow tomorrow.  



Weddell Seal


Solitary Adélie penguin

Pilot Scott



Crevasses in the Glacier



Lori loading on the Helicopter


Weddell Seal


Antartica Flag

Penguin Highway











See the "grey" hatchlings with the Penguin in the
middle of the picture.




 

Comments

  1. PAULA CLEMENSJanuary 2, 2024 at 10:20 PM

    Wow! This brings back so many memories! I loved the Adelie Penguins, especially the one that jumped into our zodiac! You're getting some great pictures. Party on!!

    ReplyDelete

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