Raina's Blogging again - Rhapsody "Around the Horn" & Antarctica.

[thefamilytravelagent]

Oh my gosh! What gorgeous pics of Antarctica! And those whales following for so long. Just amazing.

[KiwiGal117]

Raina - your pictures are fantastic! I never really thought about going to Antarctica, but it's on my bucket list now!! Beautiful, just beautiful.

[happyiam]

WOW!!!! At a loss for words. Just WOW & Thank you for sharing.:D

[gowensricks]

Well this is probably one of the most amazing reviews that I have ever read...thank you for doing this!

[heatherb1958]

Absolutely stunning photos. Thank you so much for taking the time to post them for all of us to enjoy, very much appreciated.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I said it already, but I'll say it again: AWESOME!

 

"Your photo" is amazing, as are all your other photos.

[springaussie]

Great review Raina!

[Turtles06]

Raina, this is a fabulous trip report, well written and interesting, and your photos are superb. I know from experience how long it takes to do something like this, particularly with all the photos, and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to do it and to share your adventure with us. My spouse and I had the privilege of taking an expedition trip to Antarctica three years ago, so your photos have brought back wonderful memories (like you, we found the ice just amazing). South Georgia just wasn't in the cards for us; I'm glad you were able to swing it!

 

Speaking of killer whales, we were awakened by our trip leader at 5am one day because there was a pod of killers off our starboard bow. We dressed quickly, thinking we might have a few minutes to see some and take pictures. As it turned out, the killers spotted a minke whale (breakfast!) and off they went on an hours long chase of the minke, with our ship following along the way. It was like something out of a Discovery Channel special, only live and we were there. Incredible to see. In the end, the minke slipped away under the ice (or we would have seen a very bloody kill)... The killers were exhausted, and came over to our ship to see who we were and played around. It happend that two of the world's leading killer whale experts were on board; they got to launch a zodiac and go tag a few of the tired killers, the first time that Type A killers have been geo-tagged. What a day!

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review, and thanks again!

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

Edited April 13, 2016 by Turtles06

[janabelle61]

I am absolutely in awe!! Your photos are amazing and I feel like I'm right there with you on this amazing adventure. Thank you for taking the time to do this!

[PCWalton1]

Thank you Raina for taking the time to put this report together. The photos are amazing. This is one time where the more photos the merrier. I am beginning to understand the allure of Antarctica. :)

[cjcruiser27]

Antarctica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a lovely dinner I decided that I would go up to the bridge to see if there would be a good sunset. The bridge is always open….unless it is not!

 

There were no colours but I picked up binoculars and started to help Annette the PHD Marine Biologist and whale expert look for whales. We found at least 6 different humpbacks all scattered around over a large area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw one do a small breach! Very exciting. They were too far away to bother announcing it to the ship. We just kept watching and hopping they would get closer. We chatted about the chances of seeing Orcas. “It’s all about luck. They could be swimming past us right now on the other side!” At about 9.30 we saw a new group of whales. Blowing differently.

 

 

 

AHhhhhhhhhh. They were Orcas. They came towards us and got closer and closer. NOW it was time to tell the whole ship! Then they came closer. It was a pod of at least 10 animals. They were Type B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a while Jonathon, the Expedition boss, made another announcement and said something like “this is amazing…If you are not outside on deck watching this, you are on the wrong cruise in the wrong place”

 

The ‘followed’ us at least 20 minutes. The light was too low for any decent photos. There was John the photographer, Annette, another staff member and me all up there with huge lenses. But I don’t think we got many decent shots between us. It was close to dark. But I WATCHED A POD OF 10 ORCAS FOR 20 MINUTES!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annnette was so happy. Biggest pod she has ever seen.

 

 

 

WOW. What a way to finish a great day!

 

 

 

What shall tomorrow bring?????? At least we are not getting a wake up call until 8am. YAY sleeping!

 

 

 

 

 

OMG !!!!Your pictures are AMAZING ! Thanks so much for doing this review!

[floridianny]

Your photos and experiences so far have been incredible! Thank you SO much for sharing them:)

[SenatorsFan]

I was really hoping you would do a report of this wonderful adventure and here you are! Thank you so much for all of the details and the absolutely stunning photographs. :)

Heather

[AussieVisi2r]

Guys....

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments.

Just amazing.

I was worrying the it was too detailed with too many pictures...but I shall carry on.

 

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Hey what a great review and the pic's are amazing!!

 

It was so much fun cruising with you around the horn.

 

We look forward to having the pleasure/fun of cruising with you again soon!!:D

 

Rob and Ana

 

I miss you guys!

 

Looking forward to seeing you again.

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Raina, this is a fabulous trip report, well written and interesting, and your photos are superb. I know from experience how long it takes to do something like this, particularly with all the photos, and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to do it and to share your adventure with us. My spouse and I had the privilege of taking an expedition trip to Antarctica three years ago, so your photos have brought back wonderful memories (like you, we found the ice just amazing). South Georgia just wasn't in the cards for us; I'm glad you were able to swing it!

 

Speaking of killer whales, we were awakened by our trip leader at 5am one day because there was a pod of killers off our starboard bow. We dressed quickly, thinking we might have a few minutes to see some and take pictures. As it turned out, the killers spotted a minke whale (breakfast!) and off they went on an hours long chase of the minke, with our ship following along the way. It was like something out of a Discovery Channel special, only live and we were there. Incredible to see. In the end, the minke slipped away under the ice (or we would have seen a very bloody kill)... The killers were exhausted, and came over to our ship to see who we were and played around. It happend that two of the world's leading killer whale experts were on board; they got to launch a zodiac and go tag a few of the tired killers, the first time that Type A killers have been geo-tagged. What a day!

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review, and thanks again!

 

 

That must have been amazing! It is such a privilege to be able to see these things!

[GUT2407]

Guys....

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments.

Just amazing.

I was worrying the it was too detailed with too many pictures...but I shall carry on.

 

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

Raina

 

Please carry on.

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 12

 

Woke up to snow. Yay it was snowing. Big fat flakes falling all around. Not blowing around but floating gentle onto us. And real snow flake shaped flakes. So amazing. You could see the five pointed star that is the base of all snow flakes. Snow was another of my "5 Wish List" for the trip.

 

 

I know it's not all that exciting to you Northern Hemisphere people, but in Australia we don't get snow like this. Due to our upper atmosphere winds our snow is 'torn up' by the time it lands. What we call snow - you would call "that stuff you scrap out of your freezer when you didn't shut the door properly."

In 15ish years of skiing I only saw what we would call 'powder' a few times. First time I saw snow in US i couldn't believe how dry it was. And when we throw snowballs they are like rocks. Northern ones were too dry and exploded in the air. Funny. But I digress......

 

Cierva Cove - a Zodiac cruise

64°05,1´S

60°55,9´W

And it was wonderful.

We saw lots of seals, mainly Crab Eaters lying on ice floes and bergs. They are HUGE. At least 2 meters long and a few hundred kg. Crab Eaters are the only seals who smile. They are very sweet. Not very active but sweet.

 

 

 

 

 

And of course more ice.

 

[Newby58]

JUST AMAZING. You are a teacher right? You sure taught ME lots. Thanks for sharing.

[Miamia65]

Thank you Raina, truly amazing and a great blog!!

[AussieVisi2r]

 

 

 

 

 

[dixielady]

Thanks again for sharing your trip with us. Again, your pictures are awesome. Looking forward to reading the rest of your report.

 

:)

[AussieVisi2r]

Cierva Cove

 

The whole area was full of Brash Ice.

 

 

Big chunks of smashed up ice. The zodiac could run over the smaller stuff and it made great noises on the bottom. Bigger ones bounced off. And there were ice bergs from small to shopping centre sized. The drivers kept a very respectable distance from bergs. If they were to roll the waves could swamp up.

 

 

There were some amazing bergs. The blue colour of them is quiet stunning. So many had caves and arches. On the smaller ones the “Swan neck” is quiet common. So many ponies and ducks floating around out there!

 

 

We stopped and picked up a chunk of very old ice. Totally clear – so it has been crushed for many years, maybe 1000’s in a glacier. It was about 500 x 400 x 300, but very sculptured so not a solid block. It weighted at least 40kg. I decided it looked like a pony and everyone agreed. I named him Snowy! It sat on the floor of the Zodiac for another 2 hours – and didn’t melt a drop.

That night Snowy very carved a bit, and was sitting up on the bar. Bits went into our drinks.

 

Then we saw a Leopard Seal. Squeal with excitement.

 

 

I really wanted to see a Leopard Seal. They were so scary on TV. THAT scene from '8 Below' (about the sled dogs) always made me shiver.

Named for there spotted coat, they are over 500kg and 3 meters long.

 

Amazing.

 

 

And so sweet looking, and massive. They have a small head and no neck tapering. Just this long slinky head that turns into a body. Their month is huge and goes back at least half of their head. It didn’t open it’s mouth but you could see how big it was.

 

The thing that struck me most was how serpentine looking they are. All I could think of was Nagini - the giant snake from Harry Potter.

 

When it was sick of us it moved away - like a snake. Seals do not have a pelvis, so they are the ones that bounce and blubber along when they move. It arched it’s back and humped it’s way across the ice and in it went. How special. I got to see a Leopard. (I also know where Leopard Slugs got their names). Another of the things on my 5 point wish list.

 

The temperature had really dropped but it was still beautiful. We did have to be careful as the brash ice freezes together making huge ice floes. This makes getting back to the ship hard.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Cierva Cove

 

Then back onto the ship and up to the spa. A spa! In the snow! With icebergs floating by! CHECK. Cannot tell you how wonderful this was.

 

 

Hydrurga Rocks

64°08,7´S

61°36,5´W

 

The afternoon visit was to Hydranga Rocks – a long flat, little island. Plenty of penguins – but this time Chinstraps. The guys with the little thin line like a hat strap. And heaps of Southern Sea Lions. They DO have pelvises so they are the ones who can gallop around on the ground. Much jousting of big pals and play jousting of younger ones.

 

 

The snow was amazing. Quiet heavy and so beautiful. And warm. Far to many clothes on! And taking photos in heavy snow is a new skill to me a fairly tricky. Poor camera doesn’t know what to focus on – usually the snow. So terrible photos. But fun.

And the Sea Lions are great. So huge and funny. Their giant whiskers were catching the snow and glinting.

 

 

 

 

 

Another fun day.

 

And now I have checked off the five things I really wanted to see:

* My feet on the continent of Antarctica.

* Falling Snow

* Leopard Seal

* Spa with icebergs floating by and

* Orcas.

 

Have to be happy with that. The rest is going to be an amazing bonus!

 

Great day!

[goodycruising]

Trust me! You don't want them all. I took around 175g of photos. LOL. But will include more then I normally would. Tell me if you want me to slow down on photos.

 

R

 

That is a lot! I probably should have said all the places rather than all the photos! I knew what I meant to say :) Your photos are so clear. The butterflies looks like a painting, & beautiful aerial photos too.