Tuesday 31 January 2012

Yet another great day in the white continent


Cuverville Island

This morning we were greeted by another splendid day as we approached Cuverville Island, our first landing destination for the day. Almost two weeks had passed since the Fram visited this Gentoo colony and we were thrilled to find that some chicks had hatched since then and were now snuggling with their parents on their rocky nests. It is so easy to get swept away by the sheer splendour of these animals as they display such primal family behaviour. Those who could tear themselves away from watching the Gentoos also had the option of a small climb to a viewing area above the beach. Two humpback whales were spotted in the distance from this panoramic location. Time went by all too quickly and before we knew it we had to return to the ship for lunch.


Cuverville Island


Gentoo Penguins Cuverville Island

Port Lockroy

By 3pm we had reached our next destination, Port Lockroy, a British Station and the southern most Post Office in the world. Five staff members occupy the station and share it with hundreds of Gentoo penguins. The museum and souvenir shop kept everyone busy and the passengers also had time to visit Jougla Point (a neighbouring island) with enormous whalebones from another time and even more Gentoo penguins. A leopard seal took interest in one of the polar cirkel boats before it was time to get back onboard and we were happy to host our British friends from Port Lockroy as they joined us for dinner.
Another wonderful day with two very contrasting locations and there is still more to come…

Blog entry by Mark Woszczalski

Port Lockroy