San Francisco: 37.8° S, 122.4° W; 12°C (54°F)

Our voyage back to Tierra del Fuego did not take us across the Drake Lake, but also did not force us to endure the Drake Shake.  We had good swells; anti-nausea patches bloomed en masse, but fortunately I was fine without one.  Shirley and I channeled Christmas one sea-day and worked on a two-pieces-missing puzzle of Emperor penguins.

Before we left the ship, our passports were returned to us.  They had been collected before we boarded though I’m not sure why – once at sea we were unlikely to go anywhere else!  This cute little souvenir from British Port Lockroy has mysteriously appeared in my passport.

I have always wanted to go to Antarctica, though I have harboured a concern that in going I would be contributing to the degradation of this pristine continent.  In their marketing material, Lindblad Expeditions continually emphasizes the environmental safeguards it has in place.  In fact, we had to walk in disinfecting pans both going out of and coming back into the ship.  Any used clothing and equipment was vacuumed by Lindblad staff before we were allowed ashore to ensure we were not be leaving non-native species behind.  And of course we were not allowed to take food ashore, though we could take water.

During my trip, two friends sent me one journalist’s take on the ethics of letting 40,000 tourists with their craven materialistic ways loose each year to pollute the last unspoiled place on earth.  I agree with her and will happily serve as a goodwill ambassador for the preservation of this most southern continent.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30709924

Thank you for all your comments!  It’s good to know that people are reading and, hopefully, enjoying my journal.  I am so happy you came along with me for this thoroughly splendid trip.