Brown Bluff, Antarctica - Continent Landing P.M.

January 1, 2016 - part two

After lunch we approached Brown Bluff and first we did a zodiac cruise around the area before going ashore. (I think the number of people on shore here is only 50 so half went ashore and the rest of us did the zodiac first. Then, when we came ashore they went on their zodiac cruise)

 Hadleigh was our zodiac guide

 Adelie Penguin

 Brown Bluff

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Brown Bluff

 Adelie Penguin

 later, we hiked up the hill to see nesting Snow Petrels

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

Adelie Penguins 

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguin

 Adelie Penguins

 Adelie Penguins

Adelie Penguins - one diving in 

 Adelie Penguins - one diving in 

Brown Bluff

We did get our first landing on the continent of Antarctica! Whoo Hoo! This makes our 7th continent! Shane told everyone if they wanted to kiss the ground to mark the occasion, just make sure it was guano free. Ha ha.

Brown Bluff was rocky and we did see a rockslide on our return to the ship from the zodiac. We saw a couple of snow petrels nesting which required a slightly strenuous climb up the rocks to get to them.

 landing site 

 Gentoo

 telling us about the rock formations

 Brown Bluff

 Gentoo Penguins with chicks

 Greg hiking up the hill

 Snow Petrel nesting

 views from the top of the hill

 Greg almost at the bottom of the hill

 Kelp Gull nesting

 Kelp Gull chicks

 Kelp Gull & chicks

 Gentoo

 Adelie

 me watching the Adelie

 Greg getting the "perfect shot"

 Adelie

 I think they want to know "who's chick is this?"

 Kelp Gull & Adelies

 Kelp Gull

 Gentoos singing....

 Adelie

 Greg & penguin

 Gentoo

 Gentoos with chick

 Gentoo with chick

 me on the beach

 Gentoos

 our certificates for landing on the Continent of Antarctica

 

At tonight’s briefing we got the official word that it was not possible to get across the circle. We knew it was not “good” news when Shane introduced the Captain to come out and explain the situation. Just too much ice as indicated by the missed port at Paulet Island. It just wasn't melting and breaking up as quickly as it should have. Many people booked this trip just to mark that milestone. While not the reason for our trip, it would have been nice, since we have been above the Arctic Circle.

To make up for not getting across the circle, Shane said he would arrange 2 days of landings and zodiac cruises instead of 2 sea days in rough seas. The Captain stated he would not attempt to go around the ice to get there as we didn’t have the time. It was determined that we would need 3 or 4 days going and that many days returning and then instead of landings on the way back it would be sailing straight back through the Drake & back to Ushuaia.) We felt that we probably got the better end of the deal with more scenery and wildlife being more rewarding than crossing the imaginary line. We were reminded it was not a “cruise” but an expedition and things change constantly and we were there for the adventure.

There was a Crew Show later that evening, but it was not announced except for 15 minutes before it started. We watched it on TV, since we were already in bed. I felt bad because it was poorly attended due to the lack of notice and the crew really was excited about performing and looking for the people they knew in the audience.

Here is today’s schedule:

The Weddell Sea, Paulet Island & Brown Bluff

06:30 - 07:30 A Continental Breakfast is served outside the Main Lounge

07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast is served in the Dining Room

TBA We hope to land and Zodiac cruise at Paulet Island!

Paulet Island is a circular island of 1.6 km (1 mi) in diameter with a distinct volcanic cone that rises to a height of 350 m. It was discovered by Ross’s British Antarctic Expedition (1839 - 43) and named by Ross for a Captain in the Royal Navy. It is home to breeding colonies of Adelie penguins, Antarctic  cormorants, kelp gulls and snowy sheathbills. Weddell and Antarctic fur seals occasionally haul out in the vicinity. One of the many features of this island is a memorial cross marking the grave of one of the members of Otto Nordenskjold’s expedition who died here, and the remains of the hut in which these explorers overwintered. The hut was built in 1903 by C.A. Larsen, the Norwegian captain of the wrecked vessel Antarctic of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Nordenskjold.  

1) Vincent 2) McNeish 3) Shackleton 4) Worsley 5) Crean 6) McCarthy

12:30 Lunch is served in the Dining Room

TBA We hope to land at Brown Bluff this morning

On the northeastern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, Brown Bluff is another continental landing. Named for the coloration of its looming 785 meter flat peak (it resembles a block of Norwegian cheese), we hope to spend some time with the resident Adelie penguins nesting here as well as Gentoo penguins and snow petrels. The volcanic geology of this area makes for stunning scenery and the ice of Antarctic Sound is visible from the shore.  

1) McNeish 2) Shackleton 3) Worsley 4) Crean 5) McCarthy 6) Vincent

18:30 There will be a Recap & Briefing in the Main Lounge

19:30 Dinner is served in the Dining Room

“The ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around. It cracked and growled and roared and howled like noises in a swound.” - Samuel Taylor Coleridge, from “The Ancient Mariner” 

Sunrise: 02:43 Sunset: 22:51

Tomorrow we have another full day of the beauty and splendor that is Antarctica. Back to a more normal start time to our day with breakfast being 7:30 to 8:30. Whoo Hoo!