We passed through the Straits of Magellan yesterday, which runs horizontally across the tip of South America, below the mainland. The Beagle Channel runs horizontally as well, but below the Magellan Straits and below the very large island of Tierra Del Fuego.
The Beagle Channel was to me by far the most exciting and picturesque portion of the trip so far. It is called Glacier Alley for good reason as there is a seemingly endless string of glaciers alongside the channels, on the north side, or port side which was paraded right outside our balcony this morning.
The wind at some places denied us any opportunity to open the sliding door, at other times it was shirtsleeve weather out there. The endless mountains slipping by us are so barren and lifeless. That was and is the main reason this place is virtually uninhabited, even by animals, other than the odd albatross and a seal or two. It is not a nice place at all, as you can likely sense from the pictures.
Today, after the Beagle Channel, we sailed down to the tip of this mass of islands at the well known spot called Cape Horn. There, the weather is notoriously wild as there is no land to slow down the wind and waves between Antarctica the Southern Ocean.
Last night the captain advised us the swells in the open ocean were six meters! That is the main reason that early explorers spent so much time trying to find a passage through the maze of channels and islands, where the water was more unaffected by what was happening in the wild ocean down south.
Today it was quite civilized down there. We went up on deck before dinner and took as many pictures as one would expect and then down to dinner where we celebrated Chinese New Years.
It was a great day, an early day and a relaxing day. We went to the show later at 8.00 for 4 minutes of entertainment before calling it a day.
A complete stranger took this photo of us at the southern end of the world, Cape Horn.
A glacier and its melt making its way down the mountain.
The approach is always dramatic.
This poor sod did not make it through the Beagle channel.
Another glorious glacier today. Not one sign of human habitation for many, many, miles.
Fellette at the Horn!
Doug at the tip. The captain honked the ship's horn as we passed from Pacific to Atlantic at this moment.
******************
I was unable to send this blog yesterday when we were at the Cape because of the weak signal there.
I suspect that when we are in Antarctica, after tomorrow, I will be out of contact for some time, maybe not, but if there is no blog for a bit, hang in, I will be back when we come up north a bit.
No comments:
Post a Comment