19.11. Second part: Approaching South Georgia
I am very fine again. After a long sleep my headache was gone! Currently the sea is rather calm! :-)
We will expected to reach South Georgia on Friday morning at about 5am, where we will spend 3 days for several landings, if weather permits! It will be one of the highlights of this journey! It is an extremely interesting place on earth both in history (started around 1800 with sealing industry) and wildlife! "Endurance expedition" or "Ernest Shakleton" you might google!
South Georgia is of 180km length, so it is a rather big island with high mountains! Called the "The Alps in mid-ocean", 2000km from Cape Horn! Many fjords and glaciers! Vegetation though is only in coastal areas. There is a population of around 1 million of penguins here!
We saw a 1h-video on South Georgia and how to behave there. There are very strict rules! In general there is the 5 metre rule as the minimum distance from wildlife, especially with respect to penguins and birds! You should stay at 25m distance from jousting elephant seals, as they might become aggressive and might bite you. Also it is not allowed to walk around in most of the abandoned whaling stations! There might be flying debris and other things!
I just attended an interesting lecture on he history of South Georgia given by historican Victoria! There are historic huts, a church and a museum! Also a cemetary where Ernest Shakleton is buried! James Cook I would also at least mention here! Just google him! S.G. attracted many adventurers, scientists and sometimes also mountaineers!
Weather is unpredictable and could be harsh and extreme! Flying debris is possible! Also avalanche danger! The sun could be extreme as I already experiened in the Falklands with a little sunburn in my face. ;-)
Animals like rendeer, mice and rats were intoduced 100 years ago by humans! Now an Erradication program started 2011! If we spot any mouse, rat or rendeer we have to report it! They should not be on Aouth Georgia and they will then be hunted, as they ruin the nature and bird wildlife!
Each day I plan to distribute my photography business cards to at least 10 passengers! That way I finally reach nearly all passengers! My final plan then is to offer all my jpg- pictures for a flat rate of 500USD. For these rich passengers here 500USD is just nothing! ;-)
There was a crazy offer on a very high prize level here: "Choose one bottle of wine/champagne at a prize of 400USD and get two other bottles for free!" I am very happy that I brought my own 3 bottles of red Malbec wine! So far we (I invited my room mates) started with the 2011 vintage of Malbec! It was already a very delicious wine! Vintage 2012 should be even better! ;-)
-- This email was sent by YB Tracking Ltd.
For assistance, please email support@ybtracking.com or call +44 2380 003888