Story Time

It's said a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a few words are appropriate to
explain what's going on in the picture(s). Sometimes a sequence is needed.

Many of beaches had seals sleeping on them, or all over the rookery. You would be
hiking along and hear a growling and then you'd quickly try to locate the seal, even far
inland. In Grytviken we found elephant seals sleeping in unlikely places.

In the Galapagos you tried to stay on the path and not "bother" the wildlife. Same thing in
the Antarctic, they recommended 5 yards. The main problem is no paths and the wildlife
will come to you if you stay in one spot. Sometimes it seems like they want to "help" you
take their photo.

At Grytviken, while waiting for the zodiac taxi to get back to the ship, we
spotted a single King penguin swaggering down the single road through the harbor.

It looked like the new sheriff was coming into town. The photographers froze
in their tracks taking photos (me too) and the seals just ignored it.

The bird just continued to strutt down the road, checking for outlaws. Stretching
its neck, looking around, and then continuing to walk down the main (only) road.

The group hiked up a hill at Danco Island. Reasonable heavy snow, so we left a trail of
footsteps. Deep in some spots.

You usually didn't see a single penguin. They normally have a group of 4 or 6 and they
would be traveling in a line.

The path was an obstacle,a real problem if they fell in. So one would survey it, and then
hop across. If he was successful, the next one would repeat the process until all were across.

The British maintain a research station at King Edward Point. The station "guards" the entrance
to the bay that contains Grytviken whaling station. They have a post office. We mailed ourselves
some postcards. Since they lack an airstrip, they wait for a mail ship. Took about 5 weeks.

Snowy Sheathbills are the Antarctic equivalence to New Zealand Kia Parrots. They will try
to eat/steal/open everything. We had landed in Salisbury Plains, S. Georgia. Everyone left
their life-jacket clipped to a rope on the shore. Didn't take long for the Sheathbills to try
to eat them.

Joanne caught them in a sequence where a King penguin walks by, looks at them,
and seems to be saying "Oh, them again." Then, just went on its way, ignoring them.

After Wilhelmina Bay we sailed over toward Danco Island. That evening we had an outdoor BBQ
for dinner. They broke out their supply of foam rubber hats. But as nice as the morning was, by
dinner time the clouds had moved in and we got a little snow. But the show must go on.

The Photo Journal Home is here.