Mikkelsen Harbour

Today’s landing in Mikkelsen Harbour was at D’Hainaut Island. Since the pronunciation is like “Dino Island” I hoped for some sort of Jurassic Park experience. But no. Apart from the usual bumper crop of Gentoo penguins, there were a couple leopard seals napping on an ice floe and a Weddell seal enthusiastically snoring on the shore.

There is an Argentine emergency shelter on the opposite end of the island and a worn navigational marker atop the highest point. Of particular interest was the shell of an old whaling boat with an assortment of whale bones scattered beside it. The boat is a remnant of the 20th century whaling activity in Antarctica. Whalers hauled the carcass ashore, performed initial processing then took what they wanted, leaving the rest behind. The boat is surprisingly well preserved, given the harsh climate. To the local wildlife, it is just part of the terrain.

I know this is our last stop in Antarctica. As much as I am looking forward to South Georgia, leaving here makes me a little sad. This portion of the trip was everything I imagined and nothing like I expected. There were the icebergs and the wildlife and the panoramas – all like I hoped to see. Yet seeing them and knowing they are real is humbling. I feel very small surrounded by this vastness and keenly aware of how dangerous and unforgiving the environment can be.

We are very comfortable on this ship. In a way, this comfort makes me consider what it must have taken to explore and survive in this region surrounded by all of this emptiness. And yet, what we have been able to see takes my breath away.

We were very fortunate.