Page 12 - Seniorstoday January 2023 Issue
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dressed in places with sheets of snow
added to the raw beauty of the island. By
now, snow was swirling thick. After 3
hours, we headed back to the ship. And a
well-deserved lunch and rest.
Late afternoon, boarding our zodiacs we
headed to Jason Harbour. It presented
a unique landscape, with huge Tussock
grass, growing out of seemingly barren
rock. Light snowfall had already powdered Fur seals
the tops of these grasses. The Seals had rugged coastline, approaching Fortuna
penetrated these grass thickets and lay Bay. Cold gusty winds and sleet showers
almost invisible among them. We had been mocked us as our zodiac pilot warned us
warned to keep a healthy distance from to “batter down our hatches” for the very
these – at least 10-15 ft, since if they feel choppy ride. We were welcomed onto
threatened, they can attack. And bite hard the uneven beach by …..What else? The
into you. Proof of their aggressive fighting Orchestra of Southern Elephant Seals and
showed in a lot of them – their hides gorgeous King Penguins with their utterly
scarred with open wounds where they had gorgeous yellow-orange dotted neck and
been gouged. beaks. Some standing statue still flippers
Back to ship and bar. out. Others walked gingerly in single
file, bodies swaying side to side, heads
FACTOID: suddenly ducking as they too, negotiated
The seals lying on the beach would keep difficult patches. Groups stood at the
flinging sand on themselves frequently, to keep water’s edge, ready to plunge in – but kept
cool. Even when the weather turned froid. waiting as if for the right wave to come in.
Truly delightful to watch.
Day 8 Meanwhile their friends, the fur seals
Tuesday, 1 November 2022 seemed to love the frigid waters as they
Wind Force – NW 6, Sea – Slight swells frolicked and swam flipping round and
Fortuna Bay and Stromness round like toy tops. Returned to the ship
Morning saw us alongside South Georgia’s a couple of hours later, fingers frozen stiff
trying to get decent shots in that bone
King Penguins Southern Elephant Seal
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