Peace River Gardens - Zimbabwe Sculpture

We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon touring the Peace River Gardens and admiring their Zim Sculpture Exhibit.

Peace River Gardens

ZimSculpt

Sculpture of Zimbabwe

Damoy Point and Dobrowolski Island

From the Yalour Islands we turn back to the North to hike on snow at Damoy Point and cruise in the Zodiacs around Dobowolski Island before our return to Ushuaia.   

Across another rocky beach and up the snow steps we go! The hut to the right, once a transit station, is now an historic site. 

  Dorian Bay

Antarctica Tern 

Penguin Highway

ICE

Joanne Onboard Zodiac for Cruise around Dobrowolski Island

Mystery Ship

Crabeater Seal?

Near the Zodiac, A Whale Rises

Near the Zodiac, Second Photo

Everyone Wants a Photo of the Fluke. Third Photo.    

Maybe Next Time.!

We’ve had 10 opportunities to ride in the Zodiacs and get off on land.  Some landings have been more difficult involving getting off on the bow of the zodiac and climbing “snow stairs” to rocky areas and then packed snow trails.

Atlas is very careful about us washing our boots before and after setting foot on Antarctic land so that foreign bacteria or anything else bad could infiltrate this special environment.  And, there is absolutely no trash (tissues, wrappers, etc.) that can litter anywhere.  We leave it pristine as we found it.

One of the guides told me, “The Antarctic is constantly giving back.”  I think he meant that every day you will see something amazing appear if you only watch and are attentive to it.  The whale sightings have been extra special. We’ve seen amazing humpback whales surface – and even some of them sleeping.  Apparently, they have two spheres of their brains that take turns resting. 

The Antarctic is an amazing winter wonderland.  The icebergs have all kinds of shapes and we even saw one of them tipping and turning.  They extend deep down into the ocean and the bottom of them are even bigger than the top.  The blue color from light waves is awesome.  We’ve been so fortunate to have mostly blue skies and sun lighting the snow.  Temps have been around freezing – 32 degrees, warmer now than in most of the US. 

 

I would highly recommend an Antarctic adventure if you love nature and wildlife. 

 

Pleneau Island and Yalour Islands

Leaving the Lemaire Channel behind  the World Navigator held position off Pleneau Island. As we approached  the Island's "beach," a flock of  Antarctic Shags took flight.

                                 Antarctic Shags

 

                    World Navigator from Pleneau Island.  

After lunch with the World Navigator positioned near the Yalour Islands, we boarded Zodiacs to land on somewhat flat island. Nevertheless upon reaching the island, , a short walk across a rocky beach and a few snow steps awaited us along with Adelie Penguins.   

                                                  Yalour Islands

 

                                                 Adelie Penguin

                                         The Penguin Slide

Really cute Adele penguins are a true Arctic species.  They waddled up the hill and slid down on their bellies.  Sometimes, they even slid UP the hill by flapping their flippers and somehow pushing their bodies.  They don’t seem to be bothered by humans at all and we stay well back from them.  The cruise company is very careful about us washing our boots before and after setting foot on Arctic land so that no germs or anything else bad could infiltrate this special environment.  And, there is absolutely no trash (tissues, wrappers, etc.) that can litter anywhere.  We leave it pristine as we found it.

                                       Back Down the Snow Steps

We also saw some 2-month- old baby “kelp gull” babies on a rock ledge.  They are balls of down and very cute.  This is the time that all the babies are growing rapidly before it turns cold next month.  Many of the species of birds and penguins feed from krill in the water that is very plentiful here.

Lemaire Channel

 Our captain motored dead slow through the Lemaire Channel, one of the most poplar tourists destinations in Antarctica.   He had told us that ice might block the way and that we might not reach our next destination, Pleneau Island.  

As we motored through the channel, I had my doubts; all I could see ahead was ice.  We were fortunate  to transit the channel under a clear, bright and blue sky. 

                                      There she blows!  

   

                                                            Looking Back

We made it through! Every moment offered a  stunning view and a great photo opportunity.