March 19, 2016 - A day in NE South Georgia Island

This was our busiest day to date and it was fantastic! And I'm sure that I will sleep well tonight. Last night the Polar Pioneer anchored just outside of Penguin Bay. The wake up call was at 5:30 this morning with breakfast at 6:00. I was in the first Zodiac at 7:00 that was headed into Ocean Harbor which was a whaling station between 1912 and 1923 when it was dismantled and moved to another location on the island. There are still some remnants of the operation and also a ship wreck that they apparently tried to get out of the harbor but were unsuccessful.

The weather was rapidly clearing and the temperature was 38. I joined a group of about twenty for a hike up above the harbor. The group pretty much split up and I must say that it was nice to wander by myself. I believe that I ended up about 800' above the harbor. The views of the mountains in the distance and the harbor were great. Once back to the harbor I was in the presence of hundreds of juvenile Fur Seals, many adult female Fur Seals and a lone penguin.

Once back on board the ship we had about an hour before lunch. We remained anchored for lunch and then departed the harbor and headed for Grytviken. We entered Cumberland Bay, then Cumberland Bay East and finally King Edward Cove. Grytviken was the largest whaling station on the island and operated from 1902 until 1962. Many of the old buildings remain and a few have been restored. I did join a tour that explained the process from catching the whales to shipping product. During the heyday of whaling there were 460 people employed. During the winter about 60 remained for maintenance and keeping the roofs clear of snow.

But the highlight of the day in Grytviken was visiting the grave of Ernest Shackleton. He died here in 1922 and his body was taken to the Falkland Islands where his wife, Emily Shackleton, was told about his death. She asked that he be returned to Grytviken and buried there. We all toasted "The Boss" there.

ILYB 

    Ocean Harbor 

    Fur Seals 

    Location of the former whaling station 

    At Shackleton's grave

    A rare white Fur Seal