Bound for the Falkland Islands

The bridge.

Two shots of a giant petrel.

 And two of the much smaller and very beautiful cape petrel.

Marcelo the ornithologist talking about birds.

Saturday, October 26^th.

The three of us were up and off to breakfast by 8. We sat with two members of the 9 member strong group of Alaskan friends, Rob and Jo and a Chinese Canadian from ‘Winterpeg’ named Wei Ling.

We had some down time in the morning and I made use of it to update a few things on the computer. John and I both went up to the gym for a workout. He was on the elliptical and I was on a stationary bike. It felt good to do something physical. I also did a bit of weights.

At lunch John (another of the G crew) sat with us and talked to us about his experiences of 30 years in polar travel and the progress and changes he has witnessed.

I went outside for a couple of hours in the afternoon, bird watching and trying to get photos. I also visited the bridge and saw the command centre of the ship. The seas have been ‘remarkedly flat’ according to the crew, even though we can see large swells. But today we are running before the waves which are pushing us forward. As a result, it is less windy and more sheltered on the bow than at the stern and it actually makes it feel like we are hardly moving. The boat is very stable and it seems no one has been feeling the effects of the seas since the first day.

In the afternoon Marcelo gave another lecture on bird and mammal life that we might see in the Falklands. I learned about some species of birds that are closely related (petrels for example) and having critically reduced populations are interbreeding. Usually that kind of breeding creates impotent offspring. However, scientists are finding that in some cases they are fertile and create a new species.

After the talk Marcelo sat with John, Bruce and I and told us about the current problems in his native Chile. He said the rioting is caused by a government and elite that is totally out of touch with the general populace. The increase in public transport fares was the final straw. He talked about the combined efforts of the Chilean, Bolivian, and Argentinian governments who worked together to eradicate dissidents of the three regimes. This relates to the Madres of the square in Buenos Aires that I witnessed in 2010. He also said he did his PHD in Easter Island and related his frustration with the Islanders who take no responsibility for the environmental issues that are happening there. Always interesting to get different insights and perspectives from peoples of other countries.

Next up was the briefing for tomorrow. Jonathan gave us all the information, rules and regs for our two anticipated landings on West Falkland Island. We were instructed on the life jackets that they use here. It is very small and deflated, but it is activated by water and inflates very quickly much like an airbag. Weather permitting it is going to be an excellent day. Then it was time for dinner again. Salmon for me, roast rib-eye for John and Bruce.

The evening entertainment was Blue Planet II the Deep and live music in the Polar Bear Bar with Blaise.