Day 27-28: This Email Sponsored by Happy New Year!
SubAntarctica Islands
Yesterday, we spent double anchored in Perseverance Harbour on Campbell Island and saw the Royal Albatross. It was underwhelming after Steeple Jason. An important thing to note is that they Royal Albatross don't nest in the quantities like the Black-brown Albatross and so to see the 20 or so we did was a large colony. It was a long hike up a very narrow boardwalk from which we were not allowed to leave (except a single step off to allow others to pass). Theory and practice varied widely. Equally varied was the weather as we seemed to experience all four seasons at once with sun, wind, rain and hail.
We arrived back and stayed anchored so that we could have a late lunch. Around 5:00 pm we picked up the anchors and set sail for Enderby Island. Once we cleared the harbor the swells were only 6 meters or so as a sumptuous New Years Eve dinner was laid out before us. I'm happy to report that I made it all the way through dinner, much to the surprise of crew and staff (and myself!). Alas, I had no opportunity to make my watercress soup. Maybe next year.
At a quarter to midnight I wandered down to the festivities in the lounge. A midnight buffet was presented with champagne for all. I finally got the golden key (an invite to the Russian crew party) but 6 meter swells w/ an early wake-up call meant the better part of valor was turning it down.
6:30 wake-up call this morning was not well received after last nights party. Today's long hike on Enderby island had but one season. Rain. Lots of rain. Cold rain. Biting rain. Still, it provided the opportunity to see yellow-eyes penguins, hooker sea lions, fur seals, and lots of birds; though no swans, least of all black ones, though it is the First and the day isn't over yet. Lightning cat pawed it way across the sky with sounds of rolling thunder just before we stopped for lunch.
We've left the relative shelter of Enderby Island and are now making our way to New Zealand. 36 hours from now I should be on solid ground.
Happy New Years Eve to most of you and Happy New Years Day to the rest!
-C
Yesterday, we spent double anchored in Perseverance Harbour on Campbell Island and saw the Royal Albatross. It was underwhelming after Steeple Jason. An important thing to note is that they Royal Albatross don't nest in the quantities like the Black-brown Albatross and so to see the 20 or so we did was a large colony. It was a long hike up a very narrow boardwalk from which we were not allowed to leave (except a single step off to allow others to pass). Theory and practice varied widely. Equally varied was the weather as we seemed to experience all four seasons at once with sun, wind, rain and hail.
We arrived back and stayed anchored so that we could have a late lunch. Around 5:00 pm we picked up the anchors and set sail for Enderby Island. Once we cleared the harbor the swells were only 6 meters or so as a sumptuous New Years Eve dinner was laid out before us. I'm happy to report that I made it all the way through dinner, much to the surprise of crew and staff (and myself!). Alas, I had no opportunity to make my watercress soup. Maybe next year.
At a quarter to midnight I wandered down to the festivities in the lounge. A midnight buffet was presented with champagne for all. I finally got the golden key (an invite to the Russian crew party) but 6 meter swells w/ an early wake-up call meant the better part of valor was turning it down.
6:30 wake-up call this morning was not well received after last nights party. Today's long hike on Enderby island had but one season. Rain. Lots of rain. Cold rain. Biting rain. Still, it provided the opportunity to see yellow-eyes penguins, hooker sea lions, fur seals, and lots of birds; though no swans, least of all black ones, though it is the First and the day isn't over yet. Lightning cat pawed it way across the sky with sounds of rolling thunder just before we stopped for lunch.
We've left the relative shelter of Enderby Island and are now making our way to New Zealand. 36 hours from now I should be on solid ground.
Happy New Years Eve to most of you and Happy New Years Day to the rest!
-C