Zodiacs

It’s better than the zipline and the surfboard, right?

Actually, the zodiacs were quite amazing – they get us on land, they get us up close and personal with the seals, they let us see all sides of the amazing icebergs down here, and the whales occasionally get curious about them.

And we get to compare and contrast our different drivers in a sort of a mental competition. James and Rob win for most exciting. Scott wins for most knowledgeable and steady. The girls generally fare the worst in the speed drills. Sergey takes the cake for most Russian, including, apparently, regular encounters between the propeller and the rocks… But he’s calm, restrained, and, yet, quite funny about it all.

Neko & Danco

Highlight of the day: a really curious Minke Whale that hung around for a long time by the ship and the zodiacs right as we were leaving.
Morning: cruise around Neko – not too spectacular, but quite cold. Get on land after – lots of Gentoo penguins that are really bad at walking… A climb up a hill to witness an ice shelf calving into the bay – dramatically spectacular. A tidal wave follows… Neko is mainland!
Afternoon: Danco Island starting with spectacular cruise all around, multiple humpback sightings and amazing icebergs in perfectly still water. On island, lots more penguins – at the top, nests with little baby chicklets recently hatched… facing very long odds of survival given how late they’re born, but cute to look at. Not allowed to take them home as dinner snacks… Slide down the hill to the bottom after more stunningly spectacular views all around from the top of the hill on the island.
Evening: a bit more celebrating of Marlese’s birthday… going later than I stayed up… Wonder how the Carolina game went…