World Cruise Day 47/152 - Sea Day - A fjordin' we will go...

Cruise day: 47/152
Ports days: 16
Sea days: 31
Countries: 5
Continents: 2
Ports: 10

 * - this is an asterisk.  This means that there is something that is special or out of the ordinary that needs to be noted.  Here is the asterisk-worthy information.  We are currently docked in Ushuaia, Argentina.  Technically, that should raise the port days to 17 and the countries to 6.  But, this is a technical stop. That means that the stop is for technical reasons, not itinerary reasons.  We are not allowed off the ship, and after the technical things are complete, we will be out of here.  So, for those reasons, even though we are in a port and in a new country, we really aren't so I'm not counting them.  And, it's my blog.  If you don't like the way I count, get your own! :-)

So, why are we here?  Let's head back to last night. (cue the cool, wavy special effects that indicate flashbacks)

If you remember the situation last night, the ship left the dock early so they could anchor and take on fuel.  The reason was that weather came into the Cape Horn area - serious weather - 60+-knot wind weather.  Sailing around the west coast of South America toward the Cape last night is what is known in maritime circles as a...bad idea.  We were taking on fuel because our intrepid captain, Captain Olav, determined a much better approach - head through the protected fjords and then move the sailing around Cape Horn to the following day, assuming the weather has cleared.  But, to do that, we needed more fuel, hence the refueling.  A great plan.  

Mother Nature decided that while that plan had merit, she would throw in a little monkey wrench - 35-knot winds and heavy seas in Punta Arenas...while we were refueling.  After rocking and rolling and trying to keep the fuel ship and the Viking Star together, safety trumped fuel and the fueling ship had to break off after delivering 97,743 gallons of fuel, or about half of what the captain requested.  Ok, let's move to plan B.

We headed off for the fjords and away from the weather.  The new plan is to make a technical stop in Ushuaia, Argentina, and pick up another 95,102 gallons of fuel, and that's where we are as I write this.  We will sail away tonight and head south to the Cape, assuming that the weather has headed off as expected.

As we headed into the fjords, we did get on with our bridge lessons.  I am confused and disappointed in the bridge lessons. We've been at it for a month and a half.  I signed up for bridge lessons.  I have yet to see the steering wheel, navigation equipment, throttle control, or anything else associated with the bridge.  We've just played cards.  I don't get it.  I'll have to complain, I guess. ;-)

Trivia wasn't much better - it was all Disney-themed today.  Who convinced Walt Disney to change Mortimer Mouse's name to Mickey?  We thought it would be his business partner and brother, Roy. Nope - Lillian, his wife.  Mickey's first spoken words?  Hot dog.  Who imprisoned Pinocchio, and is named for a mountain off the coast of Sicily?  Stromboli.

Arlona's art project this afternoon was aptly a watercolor of a glacier.

*Whew*, that was a long story with almost no pictures.  While I know some of you like the narrative, many just come for the pictures, so here we go.  Hang on tight.

Birds were flying today.  Here's a sample:

There were a ton of albatrosses in the area today.

Here's one with its landing gear down.

It is amazing how they just skim the water with their wing.

A couple of terns zipped by.

And back to the albatross.

This southern giant petral floated by. Thanks to all who helped with the ID.

This morning, as we were heading in toward the Beagle Channel, named for the HMS Beagle.  Between 1826 and 1830, the HMS Beagle conducted its first hydrographic survey of the coasts of the southern part of South America.

As we headed into the Beagle Channel, we got a view, whetting our whistle for what was to come.

As we started sailing through the fjords, we understood why many say that the Chilean fjords are the most beautiful in the world.  The views were simply stunning.  We are both happy that Mother Nature threw a curveball as we would not have witnessed this if we just headed directly to Cape Horn.

We spotted this huge piece of floating ice. Note the blue color meaning that this is incredibly dense ice.

We encountered what we consider to be one of the most amazing waterfalls we have ever seen.

As we sailed past this enormous glacier, Arlona noticed a couple of kayakers.

Can you see them here?

Here they are!  This gives you an idea how large this glacier is.

A short time later, we sailed past what looked to me to be a remote weather station.

Here's a look around the port in Ushuaia, Argentina.

Fuel is being loaded as I type this.  We will be heading to bed soon with fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow and some nice sailing around Cape Horn.