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Antarctica Cruise : January 5 - 20, 2023

Part 5 - Jan 15-20 : Northbound

January 15: Horseshoe Island (Base "Y")

On our last day of shore excursions, we visited Horseshoe Island and the old British Base "Y".

pIMG_7267.JPG	pIMG_89942.JPG	cIMG_7269.JPG	pIMG_7272.JPG
pIMG_7273.JPG	cIMG_7284.JPG	pIMG_7289.JPG	pIMG_7290.JPG
Malachite veins	cIMG_79321.JPG	cIMG_79329.JPG	cIMG_79335.JPG
pIMG_79339.JPG	cIMG_79347.JPG	cIMG_79352.JPG	South Polar Skua
pIMG_79362.JPG	cIMG_79366.JPG	cIMG_79368.JPG	Kelp Gull
pIMG_7309.JPG	Antarctic Tern	pIMG_7320.JPG	pIMG_7361.JPG
pIMG_7367.JPG	pIMG_7380.JPG	pIMG_7385.JPG	cIMG_7388.JPG
pIMG_7399.JPG	pIMG_7404.JPG	pIMG_7415.JPG	pIMG_79389.JPG
pIMG_7420.JPG	pIMG_7424.JPG	pIMG_7437.JPG	pIMG_79392.JPG
pIMG_7448.JPG	cIMG_7450.JPG	Tern with fish	Adelie Penguin
pIMG_7474.JPG	pIMG_7483.JPG	pIMG_7488.JPG	pIMG_7498.JPG
pIMG_7507.JPG	pIMG_7511.JPG	Juvenile Adelie Penguin	pIMG_7518.JPG
pIMG_7528.JPG	pIMG_7537.JPG	pIMG_7543.JPG	Crabeater Seal
pIMG_7555.JPG	pIMG_7559.JPG	pIMG_7564.JPG	pIMG_7572.JPG
pIMG_7576.JPG	pIMG_7591.JPG	pIMG_7598.JPG	pIMG_7606.JPG
pIMG_7613.JPG	pIMG_7615.JPG	pIMG_7643.JPG	pIMG_7645.JPG
pIMG_7673.JPG	This iceberg just rolled over	pIMG_7727.JPG	pIMG_7728.JPG
pIMG_7731.JPG	pIMG_79461.JPG	pIMG_79467.JPG	pIMG_7777.JPG
pIMG_7779.JPG	pIMG_7780.JPG	cIMG_7789.JPG	cIMG_7794.JPG
pIMG_7807.JPG	cIMG_7819.JPG	pIMG_7822.JPG	pIMG_79503.JPG
pIMG_79506.JPG	pIMG_79515.JPG	A signed coronation photo of Queen Elizabeth was hiding in the base.

January 15: Blind Bay

Our final excursion was a cruise among the sea ice floes in Blind Bay. It was filled with unexpected treats: First, a couple of young crabeater seals investigated our pair of zodiacs. Then, we hopped onto an ice floe hosting the "Sea Bar", serving hot cocoa and Bailey's. Finally, on the way back to the ship, we came across a lone emperor penguin!

Snow Petrel	pIMG_7844.JPG	cIMG_79531.JPG	pIMG_7869.JPG
pIMG_7875.JPG	pIMG_79553.JPG	pIMG_79566.JPG	pIMG_7884.JPG
pIMG_7890.JPG	cIMG_7897.JPG	pIMG_7915.JPG	pIMG_79579.JPG
pIMG_79598.JPG	pIMG_79602.JPG	pIMG_79606.JPG	pIMG_79611.JPG
pIMG_79618.JPG	pIMG_7924.JPG	pIMG_7932.JPG	Penguin tracks
pIMG_79633.JPG	The Sea Ice Bar, serving Bailey's and hot cocoa!	An Emperor Penguin!	pIMG_7974.JPG
pIMG_7984.JPG	pIMG_7989.JPG	pIMG_8000.JPG	pIMG_8009.JPG
pIMG_8021.JPG	pIMG_8028.JPG	pIMG_8035.JPG	pIMG_8048.JPG
pIMG_79660.JPG	pIMG_79667.JPG	pIMG_79673.JPG	cIMG_8066.JPG
Return of the Towel Creatures	Orcas	pIMG_8074.JPG	pIMG_8137.JPG
Much graupel	pIMG_8167.JPG	pIMG_8171.JPG	pIMG_8201.JPG

January 16: Lemaire Channel

Heading north, we sailed through the reportedly scenic Lemaire Channel... which was mostly shrouded by a snowstorm. As we reached the north end of the channel, the skies cleared for a group photo and brief farewell to Antarctica party on the helideck.

pIMG_8207.JPG	cIMG_8212.JPG	cIMG_8239.JPG	Roald Amundsen
Polarstern	pIMG_8252.JPG	South end of the Lemaire Channel	Hanseatic Nature
pIMG_79682.JPG	pIMG_8287.JPG	Azamara Pursuit	cIMG_8301.JPG
pIMG_79686.JPG	cIMG_8309.JPG	cIMG_8331.JPG	cIMG_8333.JPG
Another helideck party	Una Peaks	pIMG_8358.JPG	Expedition team photo
pIMG_8480.JPG	pIMG_90065.JPG	Chocoholics bar	cIMG_8496.JPG
Cape Petrel	pIMG_8537.JPG	Antarctic Prion (?)	pIMG_8555.JPG
Light-mantled Albatross	pIMG_8571.JPG	pIMG_8574.JPG	pIMG_90088.JPG

January 17: Drake Passage

The Drake Passage was a bit more lively on the return trip. The forecast swell was a bit under 6 meters, but we reportedly encountered up to 7 meter seas, with spray regularly splashing onto the lounge windows on the 7th deck..

pIMG_8695.JPG	Wildlife list	"Drake Shake" in the forecast	Not kidding
pIMG_8726.JPG	pIMG_90203.JPG	Ali's father Ian was the staff historian

January 18: Approaching the Beagle Channel

We converged with a couple other returning ships entering the Beagle Channel. A clear night allowed me to get my first look at a few southern constellations.

Black-browed Albatross	Northern Giant Petrel	Sooty Shearwater (?)	cIMG_8925.JPG
Imperial Cormorant	pIMG_8941.JPG	pIMG_8949.JPG	Ocean Diamond
The flag flown on the bow auctioned for $7600!	pIMG_8995.JPG	cIMG_9009.JPG	pIMG_9015.JPG
pIMG_9021.JPG	NG Explorer	cIMG_9047.JPG	cIMG_9049.JPG
Orion is upside-down. Sirius to upper right.	The Southern Cross, with Alpha Centauri to lower right	Our channel pilot arrives

January 19: Ushuaia

cIMG_9153.JPG	pIMG_9163.JPG	cIMG_9168.JPG	South American Tern
Imperial Cormorants	pIMG_9194.JPG	cIMG_9199.JPG	Kelp Gull
cIMG_9234.JPG	cIMG_9237.JPG	South American Sea Lion (?)	pIMG_9258.JPG
pIMG_9269.JPG	cIMG_9293.JPG	cIMG_90249.JPG	Christmas decorations gone
A sign at the GA airport hangar

January 20: Dallas

Back in the States!