December 31, 2021
This morning’s COVID testing assured us that we had no new cases. We have had 3 days in a row of containment! Everyone is very pleased but we are encouraged to keep our distance and wear our masks.
We are heading back North. I awoke to the rocking motion of the sea. You could feel that we are in rougher water than in the peninsula. We re-applied motion sickness patches in anticipation of our return to the Drake Passage.
This morning we past through Neptune’s Bellows and visited Deception Island, which is the exposed portion of an active volcano. We sailed into the caldera and landed at an old whaling station. The winds were extremely strong today. So strong, in fact, we were not able to make our previously planned landing at Elephant Point on Livingston Island. (South Shetland Islands)
While on Deception Island, we saw a piebald chinstrap penguin and a leopard seal sleeping on the beach. The chinstrap penguin’s name stems from the narrow black band under its head, which makes it appear as if it were wearing a black helmet.
Remnants of a Whaling Village
With winds of 50 knots (57 mph), the sea was extremely choppy and we were drenched by the time we got back on the ship. Strong, gusty winds made us miss the gang way on our first attempt. The ship repositioned and we had to swing the Zodiac around one more time. By now, we all have mastered the ‘sailors grip’ and reached out to the crew for assistance getting out of the Zodiac. Everyone was completely soaked with salty sea water from the ocean spray. All part of the fun. Glad my camera was put away in a rainproof case.
New Year’s Eve
After dinner, we waved our goodbyes to Antarctica. Looking to the South as the snow covered mountains appeared smaller and smaller. Soon we were back in open waters. We closed out the year in our cabin with friends, toasting to 2022 and new adventures to come.