The Final Leg

 

Saturday, October 28^th –  Sunday, October 29. 2023

After procuring provisions and souvenirs, Henry and I taxied to our ship, the M/V Sea Spirit from Poseidon Expeditions, which was docked just outside of Stanley proper.  We were the first passengers to arrive and were greeted by some of the crew who happily took our large bags to our cabin.  Once inside and settled, we enjoyed a small dram of Darwin Gin produced by Falkland Island Distilleries to toast our departure and the final leg of our journey.

Heavy northerly winds threated to pin us to the dock, but as soon as the last passenger climbed aboard the captain ordered ropes off and took us south. We made our way overnight towards Bleaker Island, located at the bottom of the East Island.  Sleep was challenging as the ship rocked through 10-12-foot seas and we constantly rolled back and forth in our small twin beds.  

Sunday, October 29, 2023

We awoke to yet another beautiful day with bright sunny skies.  Following a short briefing on the landing process, we boarded small Zodiacs and zipped to the sandy beaches of Bleaker Island.  After a splashy landing, it was a 1.5-mile hike to a large colony of Rockhopper penguins.  This would be our only chance to observe these birds throughout our seventeen-day expedition.  Most of us only see penguins in a zoo or an aquarium, so was very moving to experience these creatures in their natural habitat.  The busy, vocal birds seemed oblivious to the human spectators taking pictures and videos.  It was amazing to see many of the penguins paired off, sitting on nests with their partners, preening and protecting each other. After filling our SD cards with photos and videos, we made our way about another mile to a large colony of blue-eyed cormorants.  There were easily thousands of birds in a relatively tight section of the moor.  Many menacing skuas and caracara birds surrounded the colony waiting for an opportunity to pounce on any chicks or eggs that may be briefly unattended.   

                                                Blue-Eyed Cormorants, Bleaker Island

Back on the ship we learned that we would be bypassing the second landing on the Falklands due to a storm blowing in our direction from the north.  As soon as all crew and passengers were back aboard, we pulled anchor and steamed toward South Georgia Island – a 3-day cruise over open ocean.  Many species of birds followed in the wake of the ship, including Black-Browed and Wandering Albatross, Giant Petrels and Kelp Gulls.  Commerson’s dolphins played at the bow.  

Not much else to report on the first of several days at sea.  I will write more after our visit to South Georgia.

In observance of National Cat Day in the United States (October 29), I am going to post photos of Henry with some Falkland felines.  Henry is an ardent cat-lover and couldn’t resist making friends with some of the tame kitties on the islands.

Henry and Yoko fishing the mud flats, Port Howard, West Falkland

                                    Pebbles paying Henry a visit, Port Howard Lodge

    Henry with another friend at the Malvina House, Stanley Falklands

"When I am feeling low, all I have to do is look at my cats, and my courage returns."

                                                                            Charles Bukowski