1/3/2023 – Camping on the continent – Part 1 🇦🇶

It’s 7:00 am and just back from our overnight camping experience on Danco Island with 58 others from the ship. We had insulated sleeping bags and lots of layers but it was cold! Would we have changed our minds had we known how truly cold it would be? Absolutely not! What an amazing experience to sleep on the continent and experience nighttime. BTW-it was light the entire night. I woke up at 3:30 am and felt like it was still early evening after the sun sets.

Danco Island is home to lots of penguins – there’s a penguin colony and a penguin highway. The entire hill was covered with penguins. Our guides clearly marked where we slept which ensured we kept our distance from the penguins. We did have a little curious one that popped over to our campsite and eventually went back into the water. VERY IMPORTANT—our guides create a path for us and it’s important for us to stay on that path. If we wander off, we create deep holes with our muck boots. If a penguin falls into that hole, he cannot get out.

Our white noise was the Gentoo penguin’s continuous bleating, the majestic sound of calving (sounds like thunder) and the distinct noise of the humpback whales in the bay. Those whales can trumpet! It was so serene to breathe in my surroundings, listen, watch, and be amazed.

Look at those penguins enjoying the sunset!
This pic was zoomed in significantly. We do not interact with the penguins, even those that wander close to you. We maintain, at a minimum, 5 meters (approx 15 feet)

The penguins are resilient little birds. They get knocked now and then get right back up again! I have so many videos. I will see if I can post one in the photo section.

I call this one “The 3 amigos”. They stuck together on that penguin highway like 3 best friends.

This experience deserves more details so stay tuned for a part 2.

Comments

10 responses to “1/3/2023 – Camping on the continent – Part 1 🇦🇶”

  1. steve manion Avatar
    steve manion

    Wow! What an experience. Keep the pictures coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Christina Ritchie Avatar

      Will do —wifi is sketchy

      Like

  2. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    What an adventure!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. srocco53 Avatar
    srocco53

    What an adventure you are both having!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Christina Ritchie Avatar

      Definitely! What a beautiful continent

      Like

  4. Chelle Avatar
    Chelle

    ❤️🐧!!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Diane Burnett Avatar
    Diane Burnett

    What a wonderful experience you are having! I love 🐧🐧 so I’m a bit jealous but I’m happy you get to see places we can only dream about. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Christina Ritchie Avatar

      More Penguin pics coming!!

      Like

  6. Tracy Avatar
    Tracy

    That sunset picture is GORGEOUS!!

    Liked by 1 person

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