The sun rose slowly over tabular icebergs as we entered the Weddell Sea. Not long after, we were introduced to the most entertaining of Antarctic penguins, the Adelie penguin. The colony at Brown Bluff is in full swing. Most of the chicks are quite large now and require a considerable amount of food each day. We watched as penguin after penguin darted out to sea for their chick’s next meal. As we continued south in the Weddell Sea, we saw a male elephant seal resting on an ice floe and countless snow petrels. Between snow flurries, we got a glimpse of killer whales. The blowing snow shrouded their next move, and we will have to wait until tomorrow to try and find them again.
1/19/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
The Drake Passage
As we navigated north across the Drake Passage, conditions gradually improved and blue petrels and black-browed albatrosses graced our journey as visitors. John Pailthorpe delivered a captivating retelling of Shackleton's attempted crossing of the Antarctic continent, recounting the trials faced by those rugged men who cared little for comfort yet had a penchant for taking mortal risks. Following him, National Geographic Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins shared some of the many future exploration options available to our guests through National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. As we approached Tierra del Fuego, the seas calmed. Although the skies remained overcast, wildlife became increasingly abundant as we neared the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Captain Martin presented a fascinating overview of the construction of MV National Geographic Resolution and her impressive capabilities. As we entered the channel, we were greeted by hourglass and dusky dolphins while enjoying empanadas for teatime. Once we entered the Beagle, sailing was smooth all the way to Ushuaia.
