Day 12/34: Friday, February 7, 2020: Half Moon Island, South Shetlands

Half Moon Island is a minor Antarctic island, lying 1.35 km north of Burgas Peninsula, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands of the Antarctic Peninsula region. Its surface area is 171 hectares. The Argentine Cámara Base is located on the island. Our Group 8 departed the ship at 11:00 am and we were allowed one hour ashore, which was more than enough.

This island plays hosts to thousands of Chinstrap penguins, also known as "Bobby" penguins.

Some of the zodiacs were engaged in keeping ice bergs away from the ship.

An old whaling boat on the beach, now a historical relic 

There were some fur seals on the beach as well.

We both walked up to the top of the island were the main rookeries were.

There were probably a dozen fur seals on the beach on the opposite side of the island.

Also some nesting Albatrosses at the top.

We were back aboard ship around noon and the ship set off around 12:30 pm. Our Antarctic experience has come to an end. Tomorrow is a sea day and then we dock in Ushuaia, Argentina.

Day 11/33: Thursday, February 6, 2020: González Videla Antarctic Base

We arrived at the González Videla Antarctic Base around 8:00 am. This is a Chilean Naval Base on the Antarctic mainland at Waterboat Point in Paradise Bay. It is named after Chilean President Gabriel González Videla, who in the 1940s became the first chief of state of any nation to visit Antarctica. The station was active from 1951–58, and was reopened in the early 1980s.

It is a cold and bleak morning with overcast and moderate winds.

We are being ferried to shore according to our groups. Today, our Group 8 is supposed to launch around 12:30 pm.

The base stinks of penguins. They have mostly hatched their chicks (although some are still sitting on their nests) and have begun molting.

The eggs this late in the season are not expected to survive.

 

We picked up some souvenirs.