January 28th - South Shetland Islands - Half Moon Island

 We got our first glimpse of land late morning!  Great way to start the day!

After breakfast, our entire boat was given the Covid antigen test and I am happy to report that we have no Covid cases onboard!  We will be getting 2 more tests while we cruise as they want to make sure that they catch and isolate cases as early as possible.

Afterwards we had a wonderful lecture on glaciers (although I think Courtney could have done a better job).  There are only 2 ice sheets or unconstrained glaciers in the world - in Greenland and Antarctica.  Glaciers are always moving with snow compacting to firn (a transitional layer) which turns to glacier ice.  When the glaciers calve or break off, icebergs form.  Icebergs float because the density of glacier ice is less than the density of water.  

We reached Half Moon Island just after lunch.  What a perfect day!  Clear blue skies and temperature around freezing but it feels quite warm with the sun.  You can just make out the Argentine Camara research station behind us.

I was able to participate in the first kayaking group and the view from the water was spectacular!  

Tons of penguins, birds (Imperial shag below), fur seals and the beautiful Livingston glacier

After a few hours of kayaking, we were able to land on Half Moon Island and walk around, which provided very close encounters with the chinstrap penguins!  They are just adorable!  You will also see an old whaling dory that was abandoned on the beach.

And don't I look lovely in my dry suit....still dressed from my kayaking trip!