Underway to Palmer Station

After 25 days quarantine and 7 covid-19 tests, we are underway to Palmer Station, Antarctica.

A sunrise reflection off of Punta Arenas.

We are headed west to the Pacific Ocean then south to pass by Cape Horn, across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula.

We ran a weather pattern in order to enter the Pacific Ocean during daylight.  

Yes indeed!

Usually, we head east to the Atlantic.

With the addition of the west passage, I will have traveled the entire Strait Of Magellan from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

This is a replica of the Nao Victoria which I toured last year. It is 89 feet long and the only ship of five that Magellan started with in his around the world voyage. He was killed by natives in Indonesia. 18 sailors survived on this ship to complete the first circumnavigation of the world.

The two Antarctic vessels on the right.

This is the 500 anniversary of Magellan's circumnavigation. 

To the left is the end of South America.

A calm day in the Strait of Magellan. To the right is the island Tierra del Fuego.

A lighthouse Penia de Brunswick marking the end of South America. To the right is a very isolated house.

A lighthouse near the tip of South America.

Our position headed north in the Straits of Magellan.

The weather off of Cape Horn looks frightful!

The lounge.

The end of South America.

The straits of Magellan separate South America for Tierra del Fuego.

The latest weather.

What a cool commute to work!