Travels with Mel and Jody

  January 27, 2025 The Balleny Islands - a speck on the map! Since 1839, there have only been about 50 landings on any of the three Balleny Islands, and we were hoping to be a new statistic.    It also boasts the only Chinstrap Penguin colony near the Ross Sea, so we were excited to land.    Sadly, swells were large and too dangerous to land, but did have a wet, cold, but spectacular time taking the zodiac in and around the middle two islands.    They are volcanic and quite dramatic. We have included a lot of photos because many of you say to us, “why are you so fascinated by the polar regions?”    The geology and wildlife of the areas are so dramatic.    Both polar regions were tropical millions of years ago.    Volcanos have shaped Antarctica, and some are still active (Mt Eribus).    The Balleny Islands are a minuscule dot on the map that we knew nothing about, and just by good fortune we had the opportunity t...

  January 25 and 26, 2025 Two days traveling by sea. We have kept images smaller as they seem to connect better.  We hope they c ome through clearly. Our goal was to go back to Cape Adare, but head further into the bay.    Unfortunately, ice moved in quickly, so we could not make the stop.    This iceberg below was at the tip of Cape Adare and the next photo is of Borchgrevink’s hut. Iceberg Borchgrevink’s Hut on Cape Adare - you can see the sea ice blocking our way, and it was moving quickly with the  current, making navigating thru it risky. Day at sea.    Middle of the Ross Sea - iceberg functioning as Penguin hangout. Weddell Seal looking at the Skua.    Taken from the ship. We had lectures and enjoyed birds and penguins most of the day and on the 26th, we left the Ross Sea, starting to work our way back to New Zealand.    We were, however, pleasantly surprised to learn we changed course and were heading to the Balleny...

  January 24, 2025 Franklin Island This was one of our favorite visits .    It happened to be a very cold, gray day with light snow flurries.    As we got into our Zodiac, we saw Weddell seals, thousands and thousands of Adelie penguins, Skuas flying around, and magnificent icebergs.    Yes, we are seeing the same animals, but this setting was special.    James Ross had been feted by Franklin who was governor of Tasmania at that time (1840’s), as Ross made his way to the Antarctic.    Franklin Island is dramatic.    Period. The long flat beach had mounds everywhere, which the Adelies prefer to make their nests.    You can see from images that the penguin males gather pebbles to create the nest.    The mounds were created by thousands of years of these penguins nesting in the same areas and are more resilient to the snow and water. Adelie penguins making their nests from pebbles.    Chicks (gre...

  January 21, 2025 January 21 We had such a busy day yesterday, we are trying to catch up.   The weather turned very cold yesterday with snow flurries.    It was -10 degrees Celsius , approximately 14 degrees F.    Our heated gloves and vests came in handy! The Americans onboard could barely speak about what was happening back in the states and ironically, we saw our first ship in several days, the US Coast Guard ice breaker, the Polar Star.     Jody had to call her dad about the irony. Meanwhile, we saw more than a dozen Emperor Penguins (remember, the penguin Super Bowl winners?) and dozens of orcas.    Our two penguin experts onboard said they spotted well over a 100 orcas on this single day, and based on markings on its dorsal fin, actually recognized one in particular from a trip 7 years ago!    We would try and sit for a meal and each time we sat down, another announcement was made for more orca sightings, and e...