Today was our first expedition day of the voyage! After a day of sailing across the sea from Ushuaia, Argentina, we arrived at Stanley in the Falkland Islands this morning. As we approached, we began to have great sightings of the wildlife that calls this region home (at least for part of the year), including sei whales. Once cleared into the port, we ventured out for the day to enjoy the area of Stanley. We enjoyed the highlights of the city and explored the scenery and wildlife in the surrounding area at nearby Gypsy Cove. Wildlife highlights included a large variety of seabird species, from Magellanic penguins to Upland geese and steamer ducks. As we made our way out of Stanley, we were treated to views of Peale’s dolphins around the ship, perhaps a good sign of the ample wildlife ahead of us as we began to journey across the ocean towards South Georgia.
10/23/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea and the Beagle Channel
The last day of an expedition is always a mix of feelings. There is the rush to pack and get last minute things done, combined with a cascade of emotions from all that has been experienced during a once in a lifetime journey. The sunrise was colorful, the seas calm, and seabirds dotted the skies around National Geographic Endurance. Throughout the day there were a number of presentations and during lunch we were able to enjoy the stunning mountains of Isla de los Estados off our port side. Teatime was a superb occasion! There was an impressive choice of cheeses, crackers, vegetable sticks, and jams all paired with a selection of wines. On our port side, a rainbow appeared over the gray seas. During dinner and throughout the evening, we sailed along the Beagle Channel and past the Bay of Good Success. It was from here that a 23-year-old man wrote in a letter home, “I have decided to dedicate myself to natural history and hope to make some small contribution to it.” His name was Charles Darwin.