At Sea, South Sandwich Islands, 2/14/2022, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Antarctica
Valentine’s Day aboard National Geographic Endurance was spent entirely at sea! We recently departed the South Orkneys and headed east across stormy waters to visit the South Sandwich Islands. Not often visited, we headed to the islands with great anticipation.
Following a mandatory briefing about the wonders of our upcoming destinations, we heard presentations from historian Ezra about the discovery of the South Sandwich Islands and from naturalist Conor about the whales of the Southern Ocean.
Erin Katie is a biologist from the Northern Territory Australia. Having grown up in remote parts of the country such as the Kimberley and Central Australia where she developed a curiosity for landscapes, ecology and particularly the wildlife.
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Today was a day filled with exciting opportunities for exploration! We started the morning on Pebble Island with an early landing filled with Peale’s dolphins, before going for long walks along the coastline and interior. In the afternoon we were able to go on a hike to “The Neck” on Saunders Island, an area with sei whale bones and nesting cormorants. The Undersea Team went on a SCUBA dive, exploring the shallow kelp forests on the coastline of Pebble Island, and were surprised to see several Peale’s dolphins diving with them towards the end of their dive.
Today was a day filled with history! Grytviken was the first whaling station founded in 1904 by Carl Larsen. In the morning, we made our way ashore to enjoy the rich history of the place. A couple groups enjoyed hikes in the surrounding area, and everyone visited the museum and post office. We joined Conor Ryan, our whale expert, on a wonderful tour of the workings of the whaling station. Most importantly, we gave a toast to Shackleton, a.k.a. “the boss.” In the afternoon, we made a landing at Stromness and enjoyed a lovely stroll to the waterfall that Shackleton had to pass through, literally, on his way to salvation. A wonderful and historic day in South Georgia! The Men That Don't Fit In -By Robert W. Service There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will. They range the field and they rove the flood, And they climb the mountain's crest; Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood, And they don't know how to rest. If they just went straight they might go far; They are strong and brave and true; But they're always tired of the things that are, And they want the strange and new. They say: "Could I find my proper groove, What a deep mark I would make!" So they chop and change, and each fresh move Is only a fresh mistake. And each forgets, as he strips and runs With a brilliant, fitful pace, It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones Who win in the lifelong race. And each forgets that his youth has fled, Forgets that his prime is past, Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead, In the glare of the truth at last. He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance; He has just done things by half. Life's been a jolly good joke on him, And now is the time to laugh. Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost; He was never meant to win; He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone; He's a man who won't fit in. Source: The Spell of the Yukon, and Other Verses (1911)
It was a beautiful morning as the light appeared over the peaks of South Georgia. National Geographic Endurance spent the night at anchor in the protected waters of Jason Harbor. With blue skies and a little breeze, everyone boarded Zodiacs to head to shore and explore the island. Some people opted to take a long hike to stretch their legs, while others enjoyed time watching king penguins and fur seal pups on the beach. In the afternoon, the ship headed for adventure in Stromness Harbor, but we met with 60-knot winds. That plan was aborted, and we looked for refuge in the other bays and coves of the area. The wind prevailed, and landings were deemed unsafe for the day. As a plan B, we cruised into the sunset looking for whales.
