14 Dec 2016

Epic Walks, Stunning Views and Displaying Albatross

12 to 14 December.

Sailing conditions continue to be spectacular with following seas and wind, with blue skies overhead. We filled in our day at sea with three lectures and the now well rehearsed quarantine measures that have taken place in between each Island group we visit. After dinner it was all on deck for our arrival to Campbell Island with the air thick with a variety of Albatross and other seabirds.
We woke the next day to a true Subantarctic morning with low cloud, rain squalls and around 15 knots of with coming down Perseverance Harbour.  However, that didn’t stop 13 brave souls setting off for a day walk to the Northwest Bay on Campbell island. The rest of us headed into zodiacs for a morning cruise around the harbour with the Campbell Island Teal high on everyone’s lists of species to see. Almost straight away we found some along the shoreline with the final count being around 10, including what looked like a family of 3.  After a stop at the ‘World’s loneliest tree’ , we headed east down the harbour to the Hooker’s Sea Lion colony on the southern shore. Light Mantled Sooty Albatross cruised overhead and Yellow Eyed Penguins eyed us from the rocks as another rain squall come over marking a good end point to a great zodiac cruise.
A quick lunch and off we headed to climb the Col Lyall Saddle to view the Southern Royal Albatross, and what an afternoon it became. Slowly the clouds lifted to reveal a landscape that took our breaths away and by mid afternoon the layers had been stripped off, the sun was out, and with the regal Southern Royals starting their displays, life was  good. Our long walkers couldn’t resist another stroll so they joined us on the Col Lyall after completing their ‘epic’ walk across the island.  With rosy cheeks we headed back to the ship for a  glass of champagne and a toast to the beauty of these awesome islands.
Unfortunately a large low pressure weather system meant that we couldn’t stay for our planned last morning of activities on Campbell Island as we needed to depart to reach the Port of Bluff in time. Everyone was out on deck after dinner with cameras going into overdrive as the sun set over the island bathing it in some amazing light.
We’re currently at sea with both engines full speed ahead trying to bank some kilometres before the winds will increase from the north/north west and slow our progress.