21st – Last day before returning

The last day before going back across the Drake returning to Ushuaia started as usual with a wakeup at 0700 and breakfast half an hour later. An hour later people started getting ready for zodiac cruises or landings on Livingstone Island at Elephant Point where the main attraction is elephant seals. This is also one of the few places in Antarctica where you can actually find green. There were some larger males around, the alpha was estimated to app. 2 tons the others a bit smaller. A few females too, but most of all there were pups either just lying around to being very curious as to what kind of strange red creatures had arrived to the island.

Male and female elephant seals.

Female elephant seal.

Elephant seal pups.

It can even be green in Antarctica.

Nature being beautiful doesn't necessarily have to be beautiful to look at. 

Snow petrel munching on the leftovers of a female elephant seal.

Back at the ship we had lunch and relocated one last time and arrived after 4 hours at 1600 at Robert Point on Robert Island.

The conditions in the afternoon had gotten a bit livelier than previous on the trip which meant that when going from the gangway to the zodiac you had to be careful, but as soon you were in the boat and on your way to the beach it was relative smooth sailing. Being the last landing on the trip the atmosphere felt a bit more mellow – people using the last chance they have to soak in the impressions of the Antarctic environment. And it was a nice place; nice views and plenty of gentoos, chinstraps, elephant seals and a couple of fur seals.

Fur seal.

Returning from our last landing on the trip the ship's musician Blaise Guld was waiting in the mudroom and welcoming us back.

Going back to the ship the conditions hadn’t changed much but around 1815 we lifted anchor and started making our way north to Ushuaia. The day’s briefing was held at 1845 but only a couple of minutes later we were informed of breaches and flukes in the water in front of us. We must have broken some kind of record in how short time we managed to empty the lounge. We were presented with two beautiful flukes multiple times right in front of the ship by two humpback whales. A great sendoff, I don’t believe I have seen such a show before and can almost forgive nature for not giving us more emperors on the trip.

Almost.

After dinner we had a costume party and it was clear that the guides running the show are enjoying it just as much as the ones dressed up enjoy dressing up and having fun.

The sea has gotten a bit rougher and it will likely get worse during the night. I still feel fine, but once again I don’t know if it’s the sea sick patch, that I still can see the horizon without problems or if I just don’t really struggle with rough seas. Either way I’m glad it’s like that and not pure panic as soon as a wave appears. It also helps I’m in a cabin which is pretty much located in the middle of the ship.

There will be no wakeup call tomorrow but breakfast is at 0800-0900 and presentations will be held during the day. It will be some interesting days we are looking forward to.