Antarctic Adventure #14 - Paradise Bay (Brown Station) & Port Lockroy, 26 Dec 2019

Antarctic Adventure #14 - Paradise Bay (Brown Station) & Port Lockroy, 26 Dec 2019

Up at 6:50am.  Immediately got a change in plan. After our usual breakfast buffet, we prepared for our morning adventure.

Brown Station - photo from Wikipedia

According to our briefing last night, we were supposed to take a zodiac cruise, but got permission to land, again on the Penninsula!! Our second landing on the Continent.  This time actually at the Argentine Station – Brown Station in Paradise Bay. Yippee. Light snow this morning. Absolutely no wind & already 41 degrees a 7:30am! Maria sat with us, Rich & Georgianne. She asked us to join her tonight for dinner. Bought postcards for Dan & Linda and Jonah and took them to registration to have them stamped & mailed. First group left about 9am. We thought we’d have an hour, but Maria called us in just a few minutes. Apparently they were letting us all ashore at the same time!

 

First we walked up to a rocky overlook. It's at about 275'.  It was 41 degrees at 7am, so not very cold, & absolutely no wind, said it was .5 knots!! There was a slight snow & it was easy to walk up to the overlook. Very fluffy snow. 

Gentoo penguins everywhere. Stood & watched them interact with each other & gather their rocks. Watched one guy – he would pick one up, put it back down, pick up another, never took off with any. Moved some sticks too. A couple were fussing with each other & some were throwing back their heads & squawking.

Then over to the open building.  Not incredibly exciting, but it was nice to see one of the places where folks would work.  Got to talk to the young lady doctor (looked to be in her late 20’s?).  She had just arrived with the other 2 women & 5 men to set up the station (although originally built in 1951 as a year round station, it is now only manned during the summer).  They would stay there until mid March.  Brought all the supplies they would need until then, just in case nothing else could get in to bring supplies. 

 

Iggy helped us load back on the zodiac & we went around to see a Rock Cormarant nexting site. 

Saw several babies! They were fluffy & huge! Also saw some Brown Skua’s being warned away by the Antarctic Terns. 

Back on boat & piddled on computer for a little bit before lunch. Lunch was yummy – there was some yellow dahl on the lunch buffet since we had made such a fuss about how good it was!

Then a nap & woke up about 1:45pm to some strange noise? Putting the Zodiac’s in, maybe? It was a beautiful bay with high mountains all around & some sunshine. Looks really windy out.

About 2:15pm they called & we had a representative from Fort Lockroy come to talk. Amazingly there are just 4 folks staying there for the summer to run a small museum & a Penguin Post office. It is basically to keep the Great Britain prescence in Antarctica. They are strictly a charity organization to take care of the museum. It was established in 1944 as a secret project to establish Great Britain’s place here.  Can't imagine just 4 folks staying there & running things!

Had a group picture with Maria before heading over on the zodiac.  Should be a good one – out on Deck 5 aft.  All in our Antarctic gear – including lifevests!

Headed over about 3:10pm.  Hadn't gotten any pictures of us actually loading & unloading - hard to safely have the phone in hand while getting in & out with all our gear on!!

Tons of Gentoo penquins around.  Best is that the eggs are hatching.  Didn’t see any babies before going into museum.  Chatted a little with the 2 ladies that were handstamping the postcards.  The young girl that briefed us said they stamped about 80,000 a year!  Said the postcards should reach their destination by next Christmas!  We bought a commemorative coin for Dan.  Closest to Antarctic money we could get!

The inside was a museum besides the gift store.  We spent quite a while looking through the exhibits.   

Then spent about 30 minutes outside watching the penguins. Saw several babies & got a few good pictures. Saw one on a nest with an egg & a chick!

Back over with Dani.  Really like him.  He took us over to see a Antarctic Cormorant rookery sharing with a Gentoo rookery.  Too cute.  Saw more babies, but not as close

After getting back to the ship, we took a look at where we've been so far.  Can't believe how close we are to the end of the cruise ALREADY!  But we've gotten to do soooooo much!

 

After getting out of of excursion gear, we headed upstairs.  It was quite an exciting night!  First off, we were once again treated to an open bar.  They called it a blue/white night & several were all dressed up.  Maria, our trip leader looked lovely!

Once they had us happy & liquored up, Claudia gave us the bad news.  A huge storm was brewing and we were on a collision course as we crossed the Drake.  The Captain had decided that we could afford an early early morning stop at Deception Island to see the ruins of the Historic Whaling Bay, but would then have to high tail it across the Drake with likely high winds & huge waves.  Oh joy!!!!

The fun continued with another great dinner.  The wait staff had dressed for us too & we continued with toasts for the success so far & for the remainder of the trip.  Our group all sat together

Things continued in the fun mode when the OAT guides hosted a Polar Plunge party & we were presented with our certificates.  Woohoo!  Who'd a thunk it!  Finished up with some dancing to Luke.  He's lots of fun & so talented.

Back to our cabin for an early night.  Treated to a questionable towel creature & a midnight sun view of calm & beautiful Antarctica!!!  Tomorrow will be our last day in the Antarctic!  It has gone way too fast!