There was something hearteningly comforting about awakening on board National Geographic Orion this morning: over the past couple of days we have all travelled thousands of miles to reach the ship. Whether from the Americas, Australasia, Europe or Asia - all of us appreciated our 8:00 a.m. breakfast and a relaxed morning spent getting acquainted with our new home.
Our voyage ahead on board National Geographic Orion is undoubtedly an exciting prospect. The Falkland Islands and South Georgia are two of the world’s most unique and elusive destinations, not merely for their remote location and abundant and impressive wildlife, but also their rich and varied history. This expedition is an opportunity to absorb so much of this and today was a chance to enjoy presentations detaining an impressive array of topics from “Seabirds of the Southern Ocean” to “The Natural History of The Falkland Islands.”
Today was also a chance to meet our intrepid trekkers. Not only is this trip a chance to venture to some of the World’s most unique islands, it is also a chance to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton. A small contingent on board will re-create Shackleton’s journey across South Georgia – a journey that, for Shackleton and his men, represented a feat of human endurance and kinship of such strength it leaves many of us confounded by the tenacity of these men. Today, 100 years since Shackleton’s infamous expedition, we are en route to the very place where history was made.
Today as we sail across the Southern Ocean, over gentle rolling seas showered with seabirds and in the comfortable surroundings of National Geographic Orion, we cannot sincerely know what Shackleton and his men faced a century ago as they were sailing for survival towards South Georgia in the miniature James Caird. But we are here to appreciate their endeavour while exploring this exceptional part of the World.
Live on Facebook!
Following this South Georgia & the Falklands expedition? Get a live look at where our guests are exploring. We’ll be broadcasting live on Facebook from the Falklands on Friday, October 28th and live from South Georgia in the first few days of November. Follow Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic on Facebook to watch.
