Whales!

January 26

The Gerlach Strait is glassy smooth, the sun is shining and its starting out to be a beautiful day. Up early and on the Zodiac by 6:00 am!  We landed on Usefull Island and hiked to its top for spectacular views from all directions.  It’s a very small island inhabited by penguins but it’s location is such that many whalers and explorers found it to be useful for spotting whales, protection from winds, and a meeting place to exchange goods or to signal other ships. Evidently we have passed this island several times since it was pointed out that we had been in Neco Bay to the east and another spot on south.

We were scheduled to take the ship into Fournier Bay to view glaciers but a huge pod of Orcas ended those plans. Once spotted the ship followed the whales so that all the photographers could get good pictures while the rest of us watched them. We think there were between 15-20 whales.  A group of 4 were chasing a seal while another group were swimming with a baby.  The biggest ones would swim very close to the ship. We did get to photograph a huge iceberg, named The Chapel that has an open arch and steeple.

After a barbecue hamburger & hot dog lunch we realized we had traveled into the Weddel Sea and would soon be bounced around in the Drake Passage.  We left the area early so that we might avoid a storm near Cape Horn. To pass the time this afternoon the staff held an auction to raise funds for the Albatross Coalition.  We didn’t buy anything but they had some very nice items like paintings,  jewelry and an opportunity to name a whale.  We were also serenaded by a small ensemble composed of our specialists on guitar, ukulele and piano.