Andvord Bay Kayak/Neko Harbour

We arrived at Neko Harbour. The weather outside was beautiful! It was a great day to be out.

Paul rang me early, in the cabin, asking if I would like to go kayaking. Apparently a guest had dropped out and the expedition team were wanting to fill some seats. I was free so I said yes. Paul couldn't go unfortunately.

We had to dress up in a one piece suit for warmth and in case we fell in the water. We just needed to wear normal warm clothing and thick socks. The suits had 'feet' incorporated into them so we didn't need to wear shoes. We put booties on over the top of them. Fortunately all the extra material in the foot department took up space inside my booties which were the smallest they could find for me - 3 sizes too big! It didn't matter though. The suit wrists and necks were a very snug fit to stop water from getting inside. They also had a hood but we didn't need them because it wasn't raining. Before we left the ship we were encouraged to open up the neck area and bend into a ball to try to get as much air out of our suits as possible (a bit like a vacuum storage bag!)

Once we were suited and booted, we put our lifejackets on and headed off the ship for a zodiac ride out to the kayaks. On our way there, we saw a whale and the zodiac went towards it before it dived. It was wonderful sight.

We eventually got to where the kayaks were, stationed in the bay, and were helped to climb into the kayaks. The lady who partnered up with me had never kayaked before. I encourage her to use her paddle in rhythm with me. We been shown how to steer and stop but the lady couldn't seem to grasp that concept. Usually it the back person who acts as a rudder at times when needed but I was in front and ended up doing the work. It was hard because she didn't help.

It was lovely kayaking through ice, being up close and personal to it. We saw a fur sea on the ice, and a penguin hopped up onto a block of sea ice . And we heard and saw (from a distance) whales. The time on the water was very special.

Eventually we had to get back into the zodiac and head back to the ship. Some guests got dropped off at the landing site at Neko Harbour so that they could see the penguins, glacier and go for a walk up to a viewpoint.

I decided to head back to the ship instead, with another guest.

As we sailed through Andvord Bay towards the Melchior Islands, there were two sleeping whales so the ship went very slowly. Every now and then we could see them breathing. My goodness, it was very special indeed.

We will reach the Melchior Islands sometime later this afternoon.Lue lisää