On Day 4 we were in the Penola Strait region of the Antarctic peninsula. The area has the most amazing basalt rock…and a lot of penguins, of course! Booth Island and Port Charcot are one of the few places all three species of brushtail penguins – Adelies, gentoos, and chinstraps – nest together. I did not hike to the location where the Adelies were, mostly because everyone said they were nervous and very uneasy when people went near them. The scenery, the water, the rock were all so beautiful I decided to sit and just contemplate, or meditate, about the incredible place I found myself in. A friend took a photo of me as I sat on a rock, being mindful of my surroundings. As I sat quietly, a couple of Gentoo penguins came right up to me on my rock, and I did snap a couple of photos of one of them. It was an amazing start to the day.
After a lovely morning on the island, we were able to take zodiac rides around Petermann Island, surrounded by ice floes and incredible icebergs. We ran into a huge Leopard Seal snoozing on an ice floe. These animals are huge! The large females can be 1300 pounds and 10 feet long. They can be dangerous, but also surprisingly gentle. Paul Nicklen, a NatGeo photographer, dove into water and observed Leopard Seals. A large female, instead of attacking or killing this interloper, tried to help him. She brought him dead and live penguins in order to feed him and teach him to hunt. Obviously, Paul Nicklen captured some amazing images of her. Seeing Leopard Seals up close was incredible. My travel buddy, Annie, was kayaking with me when we saw a leopard seal hanging out on an ice floe!
Ice is everywhere, and beautiful in its different colors, shapes and sizes.
Oh goodness, what company are you touring with? I have a friend who’s a kayak guide with one of the companies down there (Oceanwide Expeditions).
Lindblad natgeo is the one I went with and they were terrific!!
I’m so jealous that I can’t breathe.
Don’t hold your breath, Beth! Just book a trip to Antarctica!
Wow! These photos are amazing – and what an adventure! I’ve never wanted to travel to Antarctica before but now I’m reconsidering.
It was an amazing experience…much more than I ever dreamed!
Oh my goodness, absolutely fascinating and intriguing….you have my everlasting for kayaking through there. That is definately place I would love, love, love to go. Thank you for taking me along.
Put it high on your list!