Day 73

Back in the Ice

After departing Punta Arenas, Calum and I continued our journey through the stunning Chilean fjords. Our days were filled with the awe-inspiring sights of both the Garibaldi and Agostini glaciers. We were both thrilled to find ourselves once again, surrounded by ice so we naturally took to the kayaks and did our best to navigate the bergy bits and growlers within these epic fjords. However, the highlight of time here was spotting Andean Condors soaring high above the cliffs. With a wingspan of 10' 10", these are considered to be one of largest birds of prey in the world.

The City at the End of the World

Continuing our adventure, we sailed south through the Beagle Channel, just as Charles Darwin had done so many years before. Our arrival in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, was a spectacular end to our fjord exploration. Known as the 'gateway to Antarctica,' Ushuaia is often celebrated as the world's southern most city. This picturesque town, nestled between snow-capped mountains and the sea, provided an incredible backdrop to our travels. This town now has special meaning to Calum. Once our pole to pole cruise ends he will fly back to Ushuaia where he will take part in a 10 day Polar Guiding course; hopefully, opening the door to a career in expedition guiding! Here we are checking out his new apartment!

Discovering the Falkland Islands

Just yesterday, we lived yet another exciting chapter of our journey as we arrived in the Falkland Islands. This remote archipelago offers rugged landscapes steeped in rich wildlife. Our day began with a visit to Bluff Cove Lagoon home to colonies of Gentoo and King Penguins. It was an incredible sight to watch theses stunning birds and the shear curiosity they have with us. In the afternoon, we were off to the Victory Pub where we indulged in their famed fish and chips and socialized with expedition leaders from other Antarctic ships. We ended the day with a gin tasting at Falkland Island Distillers.

Today, we are en route to the incredible South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. It's hard to contain our excitement as we sail towards this magical place. These remote and inhospitable islands are home to some of the most abundant wildlife on this planet including fur seals, elephant seals, whales and a diverse population of sea birds. Stay tuned as this trip is about to get even more incredible!