A day at sea near the beginning of a voyage is a time of anticipation, of learning the ship’s layout, and, in this case, a time to prepare our gear for a visit to South Georgia. The expedition staff filled the day with some fine lectures, and after lunch we had a bio-security extravaganza of boot scrubbing, vacuuming, and Velcro inspection. Between it all, many took advantage of any free moment to step outside to get some pictures of the numerous seabirds that always accompany a ship in these waters.
10/23/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea and the Beagle Channel
The last day of an expedition is always a mix of feelings. There is the rush to pack and get last minute things done, combined with a cascade of emotions from all that has been experienced during a once in a lifetime journey. The sunrise was colorful, the seas calm, and seabirds dotted the skies around National Geographic Endurance. Throughout the day there were a number of presentations and during lunch we were able to enjoy the stunning mountains of Isla de los Estados off our port side. Teatime was a superb occasion! There was an impressive choice of cheeses, crackers, vegetable sticks, and jams all paired with a selection of wines. On our port side, a rainbow appeared over the gray seas. During dinner and throughout the evening, we sailed along the Beagle Channel and past the Bay of Good Success. It was from here that a 23-year-old man wrote in a letter home, “I have decided to dedicate myself to natural history and hope to make some small contribution to it.” His name was Charles Darwin.
