Petermann Island, Antarctica

After our fabulous landing at Half Moon yesterday we decided to sit on the deck enjoying a drink with some friends.  The sun was shining, the other 2 groups were still on the island and it was like being on a ski holiday being surrounded by snowy mountains and magnificent scenery.  Dinner was fun, rather like being at a football game as on both sides of the ship there were whales and it was a case of who could raise the biggest ooh aah ooh aah!!!  Guess that’s what we geriatrics do for fun these days!! 

So overnight we sailed south to the Antarctic Peninsular and early this morning we reached the Gerlache  Strait, a beautiful scenic stretch of water with icebergs everywhere.  It was really cold and windy for those brave enough to go outside but they will have some wonderful pictures. Gluwein was served around 10.30, and there was a lot of conviviality in the lounges!  At around 1 pm we approached the northern end of the very scenic Lemaire Channel.  This is a strait between Kiev Peninsular in the mainland’s Graham Land and Booth Island.  Steep cliffs hem in the iceberg-filled passage which is 11 kms long and just 550 metres wide at its narrowest point. Earlier on we did see another ship, the Le Borealis, going north.  

We will be, hopefully, doing a Zodiac landing at Petermann Island around 2.30. Conditions are looking favourable at this stage.  Petermann is a snow covered and domed Island that rises moderately steeply to a rocky summit more than 200 metres above sea level.  It has a rocky coastline with many small bays and the landscape has a beautiful red and green gloss due to snow algae.  Adeline and Gentoo penguins live here along with south polar skuas.