Each day shortly after breakfast (7:00-8:30 am), two small boats are deployed. One boat, the “tag boat,” is dedicated to tagging, recording behavioral observations of the tagged whale(s) and associate(s), and taking identification photos includingContinue reading
Wilhelmina Bay (Wed.,5/12/10) – Small boats out, Observers on the bridge, Tag-on!
Today began our first full day of whale observations, krill mapping and whale tagging. And what a spectacular day it was. After a night of oceanographic surveys we awoke to a chilly, misty morning nearContinue reading
Wilhelmina Bay (Tues., 5/11/10) – Our first day in Wilhelmina Bay
“There’s a lot of ice around here!” — L. Peavey We awoke this morning to the most spectacular views. Steep mountains covered in snow dipped into the water and large circles of ice (called “iceContinue reading
Drake Passage (Mon., 5/10/10) – Some Rules for the Antarctic…
We’ve arrived at the Peninsula. We spent the last two days in the Drake Passage. It was somewhat of a gloomy crossing, with at times 6 meter seas on the beam and cold rain andContinue reading
Drake Passage (Sun., 5/9/10) – Batten down the hatches
Yesterday we watched the sun set over Tierra del Fuego and ventured from the Estrecho de la Mairre into the Drake Passage. Coffepot tiedown Before heading off to bed we made certain that everything inContinue reading
Argentinean Shelf (Sat., 5/8/10) – Over the shelf and into the Drake
We woke to a beautiful day on the Argentinean shelf, having dropped the pilot last evening and then completing our journey through the Straits of Magellan. View from the ship We spent the day travelingContinue reading
Puenta Arenas (Fri., 5/7/10) – We’re Off!
After awaking from our first night’s sleep on the ship, everyone dispersed throughout town to grab all of the last minute items they could – dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, soccer balls, and of course GPSContinue reading
Puenta Arenas (Fri., 5/7/10) – Beginnings
Where the heck are those GPS cables, anyway? Most of us arrived in Punta Arenas yesterday, tired after a long journey to the bottom of the world from various points in the U.S. Despite multipleContinue reading
Return to Palmer Station
The Gould Returns to Palmer Station from fishing to pick up the whale team for the next leg… A small subset of the whale team (Dave, Elleta, Roland and Pat) went out with the “ice-fish”Continue reading
The Long Trip Home
After an amazingly successful cruise, thoughts turned to homes, friends and families – though we had many miles to travel to get to them. We left Palmer Station at 1000 on the 7th ofContinue reading