Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica. Dec. 19, 2023.

[twangster]

Daily briefing for Port Stanley tomorrow.  

 

 

Expecting wind.

 

 

Looking past Port Stanley we have two sea days to the South Georgia Islands.  

 

The first sea day won't be too bad with waves estimated to be 2.7m.

 

 

On the second sea day the wave estimate is higher at 4.5m.  

 

 

Meanwhile the winds have died and it's a beautiful evening.

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Summer solstice.  Longest day of the year.

 

From my balcony it looked like a sunset was happening. 

 

Time of day - 21:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spotted the moon and thought that might warrant changing lenses.

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by twangster

[twangster]

The moon of the summer solstice.

 

 

With a guest appearance from Jupiter - the small dot on the right.

 

[twangster]

Day Four - Port Stanley

 

Position report:

 

 

 

[twangster]

Day 4 Chronicle:

 

22 DEC - Port Stanley.pdf

[zigtraveller]

Really enjoying following your trip and the wonderful photos.  I

 

have done the cruise myself on Wind, but my photos are not a patch on yours.

 

This question may be a bit off topic, but are you able to explain (for dummies) how the 360 camera works?  It looks almost like drone photos. 

[twangster]

9 minutes ago, zigtraveller said:

 

This question may be a bit off topic, but are you able to explain (for dummies) how the 360 camera works?  It looks almost like drone photos. 

My 360 camera has two 180 lenses that it automatically stitches into a seamless 360 photo.   It captures everything in every direction.  Later in software you can decide what to export into more conventional aspect ratios.  
 

It also, in software, makes the pole it is supported by disappear giving the drone like result.   The result is drone like pictures in places where you can’t fly a drone.  
 

My camera is the OneX3 by Insta360.  

[zigtraveller]

6 minutes ago, twangster said:

My 360 camera has two 180 lenses that it automatically stitches into a seamless 360 photo.   It captures everything in every direction.  Later in software you can decide what to export into more conventional aspect ratios.  
 

It also, in software, makes the pole it is supported by disappear giving the drone like result.   The result is drone like pictures in places where you can’t fly a drone.  
 

My camera is the OneX3 by Insta360.  

Thanks - I feel like I must have been living under a rock to have not known about these cameras.

Is the pole cumbersome to travel with?  Or is it collapsing, similar to a selfie stick?

[drron29]

Ah but did you see the  Tussac bird on West Island. I have a reputation for attracting birds of the feathered variety. I landed there on the same zodiac as Chris the bird man on the Explorer. He told me in all the trips to the Falklands he had never seen the Tussac bird reputed to be the best bird song in the Falklands. I heard a call, mimicked it and this little fellow flew down and walked up to me.

 

Yes it was the Tussac bird and Chris was overjoyed.

[twangster]

11 minutes ago, zigtraveller said:

Thanks - I feel like I must have been living under a rock to have not known about these cameras.

Is the pole cumbersome to travel with?  Or is it collapsing, similar to a selfie stick?

 

It is designed to be an action camera of sorts, like a GoPro.  It is waterproof to a degree so it works well in wet, rainy or splashy environments like a zodiac.

 

It comes with a pole or selfie stick that extends.  

 

 

This is what I've been using on the zodiac as it all fits nicely in a parka pocket when reduced to its smallest form.  Extended it is around 1m long.

 

 

I have an optional pole that extends to nearly 3m.

 

 

 

The longer pole has to be used in moderation out of respect to other people near you.  

 

A 360 camera is a novelty toy.  Because it captures everything in 360 the file sizes can be very large and it limits the resolution.  While okay for posting to social media it doesn't produce the best images compared to a real camera or even modern smartphones. 

 

I capture videos on the zodiac rides then export still frames from the video.  At some point I can post the videos but they are large and not easily uploaded over ship internet so that will have to wait until I have real internet back home.

 

It is a tool in my photography toolbox but one I tend to use sparingly.

[zigtraveller]

10 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

It is designed to be an action camera of sorts, like a GoPro.  It is waterproof to a degree so it works well in wet, rainy or splashy environments like a zodiac.

 

It comes with a pole or selfie stick that extends.  

 

 

This is what I've been using on the zodiac as it all fits nicely in a parka pocket when reduced to its smallest form.  Extended it is around 1m long.

 

 

I have an optional pole that extends to nearly 3m.

 

 

 

The longer pole has to be used in moderation out of respect to other people near you.  

 

A 360 camera is a novelty toy.  Because it captures everything in 360 the file sizes can be very large and it limits the resolution.  While okay for posting to social media it doesn't produce the best images compared to a real camera or even modern smartphones. 

 

I capture videos on the zodiac rides then export still frames from the video.  At some point I can post the videos but they are large and not easily uploaded over ship internet so that will have to wait until I have real internet back home.

 

It is a tool in my photography toolbox but one I tend to use sparingly.

Thanks so much for explaining.  Sorry to have hijacked your report.

[twangster]

This forum doesn't support embedding 360 photos directly.  You need to host them on a site that supports 360 photos.

 

Here is a 360 photo that I used to export a still frame from when I first boarded the ship in Puerto Williams.

 

Click or tap in the picture and you can see all around in 360°.

 

Silver Wind Puerto Williams Balcony Selfie in 360

 

Silver Wind New Island Zodiac Ride in 360

 

 

[zigtraveller]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

This forum doesn't support embedding 360 photos directly.  You need to host them on a site that supports 360 photos.

 

Here is a 360 photo that I used to export a still frame from when I first boarded the ship in Puerto Williams.

 

Click or tap in the picture and you can see all around in 360°.

 

Silver Wind Puerto Williams Balcony Selfie in 360

 

Silver Wind New Island Zodiac Ride in 360

 

 

Wonderful.  Particularly the zodiac photo.

[goldiemom]

Love your photos and commentary.  Following closely as we will be on the Cloud January 15.  First time on Siversea and an expedition.

 

I saw in the Chronicle that a jacket is required in La Dame for men.  Is this true?  Hubby was not intending to bring one.

 

Thank you for your daily updates.

[twangster]

2 hours ago, goldiemom said:

 

I saw in the Chronicle that a jacket is required in La Dame for men.  Is this true?  Hubby was not intending to bring one.

This is my second expedition cruise on Silversea and so far the jacket requirement has not been enforced.  I too saw the requirement in the Chronicle so I asked my butler.  He stated it isn’t enforced in The Restaurant (MDR) given the expedition nature.  On a Classic cruise with Silversea it would be a requirement.  
 

I did not ask about La Dame as I’ve assumed it is.   Let me see.  
 

Edited December 22, 2023 by twangster

[twangster]

3 hours ago, goldiemom said:

I saw in the Chronicle that a jacket is required in La Dame for men.

 

Double checked with reception and they stated a jacket is a not a requirement for La Dame due to the expedition, but a collared shirt such as a dress shirt should be worn.  

[twangster]

Day 4 continued...

 

I'm starting this after dinner on day 4.  We left Port Stanley several hours ago and we have two sea days ahead so I may finish the day 4 topic tomorrow, during day 5 at sea.

 

Land was approaching closer so I knew we were near.

 

 

 

 

In the distance you could see signs of civilization.

 

 

Too big to enter the harbor, the Silver Wind will anchor outside the harbor and we'll zodiac to town.

 

 

Not a bad view while waiting in my suite for my group to be called.

 

 

Soon enough the call over the PA came and I was off.

 

 

[twangster]

The zodiac ride today was 1.65 miles or 2.6km.  At the briefing yesterday they warned us it could be splashy. 

 

Despite being in a harbor the Falklands get a lot of wind.  Wind makes surface waves and a zodiac with surface waves makes splashes.  This was the wettest zodiac ride so far. It was fine at first but once we entered the harbor and made that turn the waves were hitting the zodiac at the perfect angle to spend the next 10 minutes in a car wash.  

 

I set my watch to record an "outdoor walk".   You can see where we anchored and the ride we took to town.

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by twangster

[drron29]

When we visited we were on the Explorer so anchored in the harbour at about the second wiggle of your zodiac course in the harbour. An easy zodiac ride to shore.

[twangster]

The town dock we landed at:

 

 

We were offered several excursions for Port Stanley going back several weeks.  Upon boarding they had added a couple we could switch to.  I stuck with the Exploring the Highlights of Stanley tour.  This was included in the cruise fare.

 

This was a bus tour which I have a love-hate relationship with.  Despite that I appreciate the value of seeing and learning a lot about an area.  

 

Our resident tour guide grew up in Stanley and was well acquainted with the town and its history.  The bus was comfortable and featured vinyl seats.  Apparently they have hosted wet cruise ship guests before.  

 

 

Typical housing.

 

 

Our first stop took us through to the end of town, past the airport and to Whalebone Cove which features the wreck of the Lady Elizabeth.

 

 

 

The Lady Elizabeth.

 

 

In the days of wooden ships the Lady Elizabeth was a state of the art iron ship.  Unfortunately she became damaged as she transited Cape Horn.  Upon seeking shelter and repair in Stanley she struck a submerged rock.  Being a remote small community Stanley didn't have the facilities to deal with an iron ship back in the day so there was little they could do for her.  While waiting out a solution she broke free of her mooring and ended up in Whalebone Cove.

 

Our tour bus.

 

 

 

Our next stop was a sign post that was established by some military that were stationed here in the wake of the 1982 conflict.  It has since become a popular attraction.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by twangster

[twangster]

The next stop was a peat bog.  Peat was the primary source of heating and cooking fuel back in the day.  

 

 

 

 

 

Despite looking like dried mud, there is actually a lot of energy in these "bricks".  Our guide recalled memories of her childhood managing the peat to heat the house like some folks manage woodpiles to do the same. 

 

 

Absent of trees, peat it is, or was.  Most homes now use home heating oil and they have tanks for this purpose at each residence.

 

 

 

 

Stanley isn't a large town at around 3,500 people in the area.  The primary place to grocery shop:

 

 

My HOA won't let me park an RV on my lawn.  I could only imagine if I parked a tank.

 

[twangster]

The next stop was at the home of a resident who has become vocal against the whaling industry.  

 

They have several skeletons on display left over from whalers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Next stop... Government House.  

 

 

Originally built when Stanley and the Falklands officially became British in the 1800s.  The newly appointed Governor needed a residence and so Government House was built.

 

 

 

WWI War Memorial

 

[twangster]

The final stop was at the Historic Dockyard Museum.

 

We were given the option to leave the tour at this point and visit the museum or stay on the bus to return to the town dock.  The museum is a ten minute walk to the dock so I decided to visit the museum.  Admission is included for cruise ship guests.

 

 

 

A propellor from the Protector.

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

I inquired if I could take pictures and they agreed so here are some pictures from inside the museum but I'm hardly capturing a fraction of the detail.