As our journey comes to a close and we make our way back through the infamous Drake Passage, we’ve all been soaking in the last of our time together on what has become a home away from home. Those still thirsty for knowledge soaked up heroic expedition stories and learned to appreciate lichen in a day full of entertaining lectures. Some did so from a more horizontal position than others. Some of us have been out and about enjoying all the seabirds we’ve come to know and love from the secure warmth of the bridge. Others were hard at work editing the beautiful photos they’ve collected, searching for those that might in some way capture the indescribable beauty we’ve experienced in this magical place. Although we are enjoying or tolerating the Drake in our own ways, all of us are reflecting on the amazing memories we’ve shared together since the last time we made this crossing.
2/28/2025
Read
National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.
