February 26, 2008 - Sailing to Antarctic: Dorian Bay
by Kate Laird

64 : 49 South 063 : 30 West. For an Antarctic summer that has apparently been awful, we are lucky to awake to a second day of bright sun. Temps are about 40F / 4C.

Gentoo Penguin and chick.

Heading on south, our entry into the Schollart Strait is like entering into a Narnia story. The view ahead is a breathtaking world of mountains and glaciers rising on both sides of the strait, with the world behind dissolving into a hazy mist of greys, closing off the world behind. (The haze was actually a N'wester that was following us.)

The ice bergs change and morph as you sail past them. Some look like Henry Moore sculptures. Distance is deceiving due to the extremely clear air and lack of usual scale, like trees. Mountains we guess to be 15 miles away are actually 35.

Four cruise ships, in a variety of sizes, head north, a sign of the growing tourism here.

Port Lockroy is our destination today. It's an old British WWII station cum research station, now a historic site. Pengins are everywhere in various states of molt. One fluffy chick comes and pecks inquisitively at Sheila's boot.

Penguin rookery with Ronge Island in the background

Anchored in a nearby bay, we feast on another wonderful meal produced by Kate, featuring BBQ'd Argentinian beef and wine. We watch the sun set on the local peaks and watch the penguins slowly climb the snow slope for the night.

Tomorrow, Vernadsky (we hope), but we never mention our ETA, which we have learned the gods consider a sign of human hubris. (posted by Pam)

For more about Seal see http://www.expeditionsail.com.