at Neko Harbor on the peninsula. An entirely terrific last day on the icy continent.
The Silver Explorer (center, distance) surrounded by brash ice from nearby calving glaciers in Neko Harbor.
Brown Bluff dressed in fresh snow and ice...
And a highly curious Gentoo Penguin chick investigating our gear on shore.
Towering iceberg in the Drake Passage...
as we make our way toward Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Ship's cruise into Drygalski Fjord...
on the southeastern end of South Georgia.
Grytviken whaling station...
as seen from above the restored church, on the return walk from Maiviken, a nearby historic sealing station.
Inside the museum, a juvenile Wandering Albatross with a nine foot wingspan!
Industrial remains of the early 20th century whaling station.
Expedition team member Patrick Demus and me at the pass between Grytviken and Maiviken. I’m trying to convince the guests that this German-speaking Austrian fellow is my nephew!
Gold Harbour panorama...
on a gorgeous day where, unfortunately, wind and swell prevented us from landing. A huge disappointment.
(Click image to enlarge.)
Panoramic view of Stromness...
a historic whaling station to which Sir Ernest Shackleton returned after his epic adventure in 1916. It’s from here that the rescue of the men on Elephant Island was launched.
(Click image to enlarge.)
Beginning the short walk from Stromness to Shackleton’s waterfall, one mile up the valley.
Shackleton’s waterfall, the last obstacle on the crossing of South Georgia.
My reflection in an Antarctic fur seal’s eye.
The view of Godthul Harbor...
from the summit of Mount Edda, nearly 1,000 feet above sea level.
(Click image to enlarge.)
On the bridge of the Silver Explorer...
as we enter North Cumberland Bay on South Georgia.
From left to right: John, the 2nd officer is making a notation in the ship’s logbook, Captain Eric Saint Plancat has the conn, and Lawrence, the seaman, has the helm.
Shag Rocks heralds the approach to South Georgia...
and is draped in guano from the South Georgia Shag.
The "Neck" at Saunders Island...
(Click image to enlarge.)
Panorama view of Stanley...
capital city of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. It feels like a slice of the United Kingdom here, and I have yet to meet anyone who is eager for liberation by the Argentinians (a reference to the 1982 conflict)!
(Click image to enlarge.)
Faces of the Falkland Islands...
Antarctic Cormorant
Southern Rockhopper Penguin
Magellenic Oystercatcher
Dolphin Gull
Magellenic Penguin
Black-Browed Albatross
Black-Browed Albatross chick
Sunset in the Beagle Channel...
as we set off again for the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica.
Dissected cinder cone...
in Neptune’s Bellows, the entrance to the inner caldera at Deception Island.
(Click image to enlarge.)
Priorities at EWU...
I just received this very disappointing information from the curator of the gallery at EWU:
Good afternoon, Dr. Buchanan,
I wanted to share with you that the EWU Downtown Student Gallery will be closing its doors this June 2019, and will not be able to host your exhibition fall quarter of 2019. While I was very excited to host this exhibit, given the university’s current budget situation, it has been decided to close the gallery.
Thank you so much for your support and I wish you well.
Sincerely,
Beth
I bet the athletics program at EWU continues to receive full support!
Sunset over Livingston Island...
as the Silver Explorer turns north to return to Ushuaia.
(Click image to enlarge.)
Half Moon Island...
is the last landing of this voyage.
Chinstrap penguins.
Elephant seal.
Jawbone of baleen whale, with me for scale.
Deception Island caldera...
Active geothermal activity in Whaler’s Bay.
British Antarctic Survey station Biscoe House destroyed by a lahar in 1967.
Norwegian whaling station oil tanks.
Snow and surf on the black sand beach.
Ukranian station Vernadsky...
Nearby yawning crabeater seal.
Crabeater seals on ice, and, by the way, they eat krill, not crabs.