January 3

Days 5-8  Antarctic Peninsula (cont'd)

Our journey last night was a bit rougher than what we've become used to over the last few days.  A harbinger of things to come, perhaps.  As we pull into our destination (Yankee Harbour) the wind is up bur the sun is out; clearest day yet.  There is another ship in view - our first since leaving Ushuaia.  It looks like a big one, though; too big to land any people.  We're in the South Shetland Islands now; still considered part of Antarctica.  Yankee Harbour is on the southwest side of Greenwich Island.  In order to work around the weather as best we can, we're scheduled to land about 7am.  Yawn!

A short, but beautiful landing.  Lovely scenery all around and hundreds of Gentoo penguins.  There were lots of chicks; the biggest ones we've seen yet.  They grow so quickly so that even if these are only a week or so older than the ones we saw on the peninsula it makes quite a difference.

Back on the boat and ready to head to breakfast.  The plan for the rest of the day seems a bit fluid, depending on weather.  Plan A is to land at Fort Point (also on Greenwich Island) about 11:30.

Fort Point was a lovely landing.  Scenically stunning and both Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins.  Although - the Chinstrap nests were quite far from the end of our allowed wanderings so I didn't manage to see any chicks.  Lots of Gentoo chicks, though, and some pretty darned big ones!  

As we steam north after our sunny landings today, at some point we've gone from great views to limited visibility and fairly dense fog.  Dare we hope that we land on Elephant Island (Point Wild) tomorrow before heading to South Georgia??

Here's where we've been so far.

As we steam north after our sunny landings today, at some point we've gone from great views to limited visibility and fairly dense fog.  Dare we hope that we land on Elephant Island tomorrow before heading to South Georgia??