Thursday March 8th, 2018 Sunrise: 0655/Sunset: 1958
Beagle Channel & Ushuaia
“Channel about one and one half miles wide, hills on both sides above two thousand foot high… Scenery—very retired—many glaciers, uninhabited, beryl blue, most beautiful, contrasted with snow.” — Charles Darwin, describing the Beagle Channel
0915 Disembarkation Briefing with Alexandra Van Nostrand
0930 Around Cape Horn video. Unique and fascinating footage shot by the late Capt. Irving Johnson during his 1929 rounding of Cape Horn aboard a square rigger.
1100 Tierra del Fuego: A Look into Karukinka Park enrichment lecture by Macduff Everton. He will present anecdotes and photographs from his time spent in this private natural park, managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, on the Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego.
We had Lunch with Captain Martin today. He is such an interesting guy and so much fun to visit with. We have really enjoyed the Open Bridge policy on the ship and find it very entertaining to go up there and spend time watching him and his crew work. He’s been on the Orion for the entire Antarctica season (4 months) and missed the birth of his baby at the end of January. So he is anxious to get back to France and meet the little guy in person.
1330 Light on Earth video– Why do animals produce light? Join us for a film in the Lounge or on your stateroom television and marvel at some of the unique animals around the world with this unusual ability.
Late this evening, we will enter the Beagle Channel and pick up a pilot for our transit of the channel to Ushuaia, where our journey ends. These protected waterways of the southern tip of South America are lined with steep cliffs, mountains, islets, and with the first native trees we will have seen since we left Tierra del Fuego.
This afternoon several dolphin were playing in the ocean waters directly in front of the boat.
1500 Plastic & Other Human Impacts on our Oceans enrichment lecture by Chris Croxson discussing the ramifications of human activity for our oceans and the wildlife that reside within the planet’s most abundant environment.
Throughout the afternoon we have had giant Albatross circling about the ship and past our cabin window.
1800 Captains Farewell Cocktail Party – Captain Martin Graser invited everyone for farewell drinks and a recap of the voyage. The party started this with the Voyage Slideshow. The drinks were free flowing as usual in the evenings. Today’s drink of the day was Pinã Colada. Shaun and Captain Martin each gave speeches individually and thanked all of their crew and staff. We had a trip with no major injuries or accidents which was a major accomplishment. Dr. Brad mostly had to deal with a respiratory bug that spread around the ship a bit. Thankfully, we did not catch it.
1900 Farewell Dinner is served in the Restaurant. We sat with George & Mary Foristall and Dick and Sue Parr. Teddy performed another napkin magic trick for us before dessert…a little jumping animal that truly did make me jump.
It feels like we have been gone forever. Three weeks is a long time on a ship! I can’t even imagine how our crew does it day in and day out for months at a time. Most of them sign on for 6-9 month contracts. The majority of the crew are Phillipino. They have all been such hard workers and always cheerful , attentive and friendly. Antonio has been our cabin attendant throughout the voyage and he’s been super at keeping our cabin neat and tidy and our fridge stocked with soft drinks.
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