Page 13 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 2_2024

TRAVEL Today's Child

Catchers, Imperial and Rock Shag, Long- and ice covered the mountainous terrain
tailed Meadowlark, Dark-faced Ground of all the islands and icebergs floated
Tyrant, White-bridled Finch and the non- in all directions. Adele penguins were
flying Falkland Steamer Duck. sighted on an ice floe and colonies of
Chinstrap penguins could be seen on a
Life on board ship was never dull and number of icebergs. The temperature
apart from the half dozen restaurants even in midsummer was zero degrees,
serving excellent cuisine, there were daily and we dressed in warm layers when out
trivia quizzes, exercise classes, shows on deck. Humpbacked whales surfaced
every evening and lectures conducted by near the ship and penguins could be
six different lecturers on topics such as seen porpoising in and out of the water
the various ports of call, the geology of in their characteristic swimming motion.
the area, plate tectonics, the local wildlife A snowfall covered the open top decks in
Humpback whale and climate change in Antarctica. Also a few centimetres of snow and added to
on board were a gym, spa, library, heated the Antarctic experience.
and unheated pools, card room, live
bands and other entertainers. The ship cruised along the Antarctic
peninsular until reaching a latitude of
After leaving the Falklands the ship 64.5 degrees south, almost reaching the
cruised further south across the Antarctic circle, before heading north
surprisingly calm Drake passage and again and into the Drake passage. Our
headed towards the Antarctic peninsula. next port of call was Ushuaia on the
At noon each day the ship’s captain Argentinian part of Tierra del Fuego on
would broadcast the ship’s position in the southern tip of South America. The
terms of latitude and longitude, current Drake passage is noted for its storms
speed, wind speed and time of arrival and we experienced a force 10 gale with
at our next destination. Birds seen in waves metres high, causing the ship to
the Drake passage were Cape Petrels, pitch and roll. Plates and glasses crashed
Southern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater and to the floor and passengers were asked
Light Mantled Albatros
Slender-billed Prion. The first land sighted to remain in their state rooms until the
was Deception Island, one of the islands storm subsided many hours later.
in the South Shetland island chain. Snow Ushuaia does not have a deepwater

Southern Fulmar

The Antarctic peninsula

Wondering Albatross

Megallanic Horned Owl Adele Penguins riding on an iceberg

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