Conditions couldn’t be more pleasant for the first day of our two-day crossing to South Georgia, with fair winds and following seas as our companions all day long. After a full and exciting three days in the Falklands, the calm and restful day was much appreciated by all on board. Our presentation schedule for the day began with, “An Introduction to Penguins of South Georgia,” by this DER’s author, followed by Dr. Deb Goodwin’s talk on, “The Southern Ocean.”
Later in the afternoon, we attended a mandatory briefing on guidelines and practices for our visits to both South Georgia and Antarctica, immediately followed by a mandatory biosecurity check and decontamination. The latter is an essential and necessary practice to ensure that we don’t bring any foreign pathogens and organic materials to these two pristine environments. The afternoon concluded with a wonderful lecture from National Geographic Photographer James Whitlow and a delicious teatime service complete with fresh scones. We will need every bit of rest and calories to prepare us for the next several days in South Georgia.
