Rounding the Cape!

The boat was fantastic and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. I adjusted to the boat well considering a past with seasickness. The night was interesting though. I went to sleep very easily, but I woke up suddenly around 2 AM because we had run in to some rough water (well, at least rough for me!) and the boat started to pitch more than it had. I didn't get queasy but I was awake for a few minutes trying to figure out why the room was moving. And no, it wasn't because of the pisco sours!

Today's itinerary started with a visit to Cape Horn. There was some uncertainty as to whether the weather would allow us to disembark. Thankfully it was a bit windy and the waves were up a bit, but we were able to board the Zodiacs for the trip to the island. I did get a bit queasy heading up to the 5th deck where we would assemble to load up on the Zodiacs. Thankfully, Dr. F had a miracle pill in Zofran that dissolved under the tongue and dissolved my seasickness before it got worse. Even better, that was the worst of any seasickness I would feel for the entire trip!

Assembled in the Darwin Lounge for disembarkation.

The procedure was to walk to the back of the boat.

Down the stairs at the stern and put your accountability tag on the board.

 

The trip from the boat at right to the landing, foreground, was short, but wet. The Chilean and Magellanic flags greeted us.

The Zodiacs made several trips and everyone was on the island.

Ascending the 162 steps to the top.

Flying the Chilean flag.

The Chilean Navy maintains an officer (with his family) on the island at all times. He greeted everyone from the Stella Australis with a firm handshake.

Looking towards the Cape Horn Monument.

Back towards the lighthouse and the boat on the far left.

Pretty darn far South.

Not much further South and every direction would be North! Remember it's less than 1000 kilometers to Antarctica!

The tiny gift shop that was mobbed by souvenir seekers, including me.

The 1902 lighthouse with a more modern building around it. The winds were brisk and the building was sturdy, standing rock steady.

The mariner's Chapel.

It was a little bit calmer for the return trip.

I can take one more.

After the excursion to the island, we all worked up a hunger which was just as well since a huge breakfast buffet awaited us in the Patagonia dining room.

There were more activities after breakfast including briefings about the next excursion to Wulaia Bay as well as a trip to the bridge.

The navigator marks our position on the chart. Down here they use the old school methods of navigation and GPS is only used as a backup. At the last night of the trip, they auctioned off this chart. Really cool!

You can see the line of our route taken down to the Cape and back.

Hopefully we would never see this flag, the POB or Person Over Board flag.

Manning the helm.

The chart of flag symbols.

The ship's log.

Our comfortable and spacious cabin.

The bathroom with the jet engine vortex toilet. Thankfully this shower didn't try to kill me.

After the visit to the bridge, we had a great lunch and disembarked in the afternoon for a trip to Wulaia Bay. Wulaia Bay was a Chilean Navy radio station at one point as well as an estancia or sheep ranch later. Cruceros Australis has purchased this and restored the radio station building to serve as a historical interpretative exhibit.

Getting on land, we assembled in groups and had the good fortune to have Mauricio Alvarez as our guide for the trip. Mauricio has long been the head of expeditions for Cruceros Australis and is heavily involved in many areas of conservation and history in Chile. If you're ever in the area, find him.

The spikes were actually soft!

Mauricio has a complicated relationship with the beavers that were introduced by Canadian fur trappers many years ago. They are destroying habitat and expanding their range daily.

From the top of the ridge looking back to the boat.

Mauricio holds forth about the beaver.

Wulaia Bay.

More beaver handiwork.

This Hollander was quite the character. Reminded me of Thurston Howell from Gilligan's Island.

Back at the beach they had hot chocolate and whisky. Or whisky in your hot chocolate!

Back to the boat.

The rigging for stowing the Zodiacs on board.

The Palfinger cranes on both sides made quick work of bringing the Zodiacs back on board.

A great seared tuna appetizer for dinner.

After the long day of activities followed by great food, we sat in on a briefing on wildlife in Patagonia and capped the night off with karaoke. I'm not certain but there may or may not be photographic or video proof of me singing karaoke. We reluctantly closed down the lounge and retired to our cabin for some well earned sleep.

While we slept the crew steered the Stella back towards Ushuaia and then west through the Beagle Channel.

Next up: An expedition to the Glacier and knot tying.