Orne Harbour – setting foot on the white continent & Wilhelmina Bay cruising

11 November 2022

The first morning in Antarctic Peninsula dawned with snow on my balcony. It was magical.

Imagine waking up to this….

This morning we did our first (of two) Continental landings. There are a few landing sites on the Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Cruising Circuit that afford landings on the actual Antarctic Continent (the Peninsula itself) instead of the islands surrounding the Peninsula. Orne Harbour is one of these sites.

We were warned not to even contemplate sliding down the hill as the Expedition team marked out a zigzag path up the hill, around a peak and further up to the lowest reach of the Chinstrap Penguin colony.

Up..Up..Up… and over the ridge the brave “Red Penguins” go, watch your step and don’t mind the snow!

It felt like my “Personal Mount Everest”…

I made it! On top of the world… my 6th continent (sorry Australia… for me you will be #7)

We went all the way…. to see the three chinstrap penguins that represent the bottom of this death defying colony.

All for the stars… the three chinstrap penguins
And possibly the view of the ship… OK, there’s that!

And ornithologist Lancy (also affectionately known as Professor Penguin) stood there BEAMING – so proud of these little guys! And honestly this Meme came to mind….

I’m sorry Lancy, I have to. But I’m posting this with your permission… LOL and thanks for “understanding”…

Not my pic – source somewhere on the internet 

The weather turned nasty and we made a careful, yet hasty retreat back to the ship.

The afternoon we had to change plans due to the weather (Whiteout!). Cuverville Island was not going to happen. Not sure if this ended up being plan I,J or perhaps M, but Yibo arranged a spectacular Zodiac Ice Cruise in Wilhelmina bay.

I felt priviledged as we were new teammember Molly’s first Hurtigruten Zodiac Ice Cruise passengers, so it was a new experience all round!

Ice Cruising in Wilhelmina Bay
The sound of the ice against the zodiac is amazing
When skies are grey, but the ice is so magnificently blue – no filters, I promise

Inbetween all of this Zoe arranged a perplexing Antarctic Scavenger Hunt around the ship. What I remember from that exercise is the measurements of the “Blue Whale” is if you look up, infront of Reception, I think.. It may be closer to the coffee area and Expedition Desk, but look up in that general area – hidden in plain sight. The relative lenghts of various whales are marked out from a starting point close to the Whale Table – walking in the direction of Reception – if you look up – you will see the markers. I think there are still one or two of those clues I have never found.

Following the evening briefing we dropped off the campers – pretending to watch them go off with some grace, I’ll admit I was jealous. [But I did get my chance to join the “I camped in Antarctica ” Club the next year *happy penguin dance* ]

So this little penguin went to bed – warm and snug in cabin 805!

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