RWSE Day 7: Ahoy … Gold Harbour

“Visually and emotionally, the island of South Georgia overwhelms. At first glance, it resembles the far south Atlantic branch of Dr. Doolittle’s fantastic zoo: a profusion of captivating animals that quickly transforms even the most discriminating observer into a raving anthropomorphic.” ~~ Ron Naveen ~~ (from the Daily Program)

In 2007, we did a number of landings and zodiac cruises in South Georgia … 11, to be exact … over a period of four days.

They were all wonderful, but some of them were especially memorable — King Haakon Bay … where Shackleton and five of his men landed after the grueling trip from Elephant Island; Cape Rosa & Cave Cove … where three of Shackleton’s men sought shelter while he and two others crossed the mountains to seek help at the Stromness Whaling Station; Prion Island … where we trekked up muddy paths through tussock grass to sit with breeding wandering albatrosses; Salisbury Plain … one of the three largest king penguin colonies at the time, with its population nearly doubled by the presence of all the chicks in their fluffy brown baby coats.

Then there was our landing at Gold Harbour! In the aftermath of our trip, when asked about our favorite landing, Gold Harbour was always the first one that came to mind. Why? Was it all the critters amongst which we walked. Was it the spectacular scenery … Bertrab Glacier flowing down the mountain? Was it the weather … with temps high enough for us to wander sans parkas? Was it simply the fact that it was the last time we set foot on SGI? All of the above I would say.

Our landing today — again our last one in SGI — did not disappoint … even if Bertrab Glacier has receded noticeably in the intervening years since we were here last.Read more