About this blog . . . .

In the introduction to his book, PATAGONIA - At the Bottom of the World, Dick Lutz wrote: "Patagonia is a region, not a country. It spans the southern third of Chile and Argentina, stretching between the Pacific and the Atlantic roughly from Puerto Montt, Chile and Peninsula Valdes, Argentina south [until] it meets the famous waterways of the Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, and Drake Passage (or Drake Strait). The northern limit of Patagonia is ill-defined, while the border between Chile and Argentina divides the region." Patagonia is sparsely populated, so much so that in 1991 the Hudson volcano erupted and no human was injured, even though this eruption was larger than that of Mt. St. Helens in 1980.
Ivan and I have been eyeing this area for a visit for quite some time. The possibility is great that we will see penguins, guanacos, Steamer Ducks (Flightless as well as Flying!), as well as many dozens of other remarkable animals and birds, to say nothing of the insects, reptiles, mountains. I'd better stop here. Writing these blogs has been a source of much pleasure for me, so if you follow us on our trip, my hope is that you will learn something about this unusual place, and will have a bit of fun reading of our adventures and, in some cases, misadventures!
REMEMBER TO READ FROM THE BOTTOM UP! The latest post will be at the top of the page, with earlier posts below it.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Dec. 13 - Cape Horn Day

Sunrise on Dec. 13, 2011 was at 4:41AM
We had once again been warned that we would encounter heavy seas around 3AM, and to be sure our breakable things were on the floor or somehow secured from falling and breaking. This time, the warning proved true and the heavy seas lasted a couple of hours. I LOVED it! Several other passengers were less pleased. Let's have a look at the map for today:

This was a day of much travel, but was one of the most exciting and rewarding days I have ever experienced. In the upper left corner of the photo is the number '3' which was the Pia Glacier trip from yesterday. Our rough seas section during the night came when we entered Nassau Bay. By the time we got up and went to breakfast, the seas were, for all intents and purposes, flat. We walked on the boat without grabbing for a handrail, and everyone looked pretty chipper. So, we went into Nassau Bay at 3AM, had some rough seas and went into the calm area next to the set of islands just above the words, "Cabo de Hornos" around 5AM. The captain informed everyone that the conditions looked good for the zodiac trip to Cape Horn. I was pumped up for this! The landing was to be made before breakfast, around 7AM. We were told that, for this landing, we would have to keep our life jackets on even while on land due to the whimsy of the weather. Here are a bunch of photos I took:
Cutest passenger on a zodiac EVER! (The guy with no hat on!)

Staircase to the top of Cape Horn
Close-up of the staircase
Famous Author at the park entrance
Cape Horn Memorial to all lost mariners.
This sculpture is simple, but breathtaking.
Next land beyond this low island is Antarctica
Visitors see the park's features from this boardwalk.
More on this Memorial Stone and Poem in a later post
Boarding the zodiac for the trip back to the boat.
See the two guys dressed all in black?
They are in wetsuits to assist with keeping the zodiac in place!
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