Antarctic

By Bonnie Truax

These photos are part of the story told in No Home Address.

Coming Oct 20
Buy the book — No Home Address.

Town sign for Ushuaia with Beagle Bay in the background

Falkland Islands

Albatross photo by Massimo Bassano of Albatross Expeditions

Rockhopper Penguin in the Tussock Grass on the Falkland Islands — Rockhopper Penguin in the Tussock Grass

The tiny Albatross baby in the foreground looking smug after squirting all over the Penguin behind him.

King Penguins on Saunders Island part of the Falkland islands — King Penguins on Saunders Island

Colorful homes on Stanley Island, the capital of the Falkland Islands — Colorful homes on Stanley Island

South Georgia

King Penguins by the water in South Georgia — King Penguins

Baby Elephant Seal and a King Penguin in South Georgia — Baby Elephant Seal and a King Penguin

Penguin colony in South Georgia on the side of a misty mountain — Penguin colony in Right Whale Bay, South Georgia

Abandoned whaling station on South Georgia — Fur seal in the tussock grass

Young Elephant Seals playing in the water with a glacier in the background in St. Andrews Bay South Georgia — Young Elephant Seals playing in the water with a glacier in the background in St. Andrews Bay

St Andrews Bay South Georgia water reflection — St Andrews Bay

Penguins a rock ledge near shore with white capped mountains in the background on St Andrews Bay South Georgia — St Andrews Bay

Stromness Whaling Station

Abandoned whaling station, seals in the foreground, mountain in the background on South Georgia — Abandoned whaling station

On the deck of the ship looking at South Georgia in the sun set — South Georgia Island on the horizon. Yes, it was freezing cold without my coat for this picture.

Day 8, South Georgia Salisbury Shore on Jan 1st 2019 - ©Massimo Bassano-Albatros Expeditions 2018 - 43 — A wet landing in South Georgia. Photo was taken by Massimo Bassano from Albatros Expeditions

Antarctica

Deception Island

Part of the Chinstrap Penguin Rookery in Antarctica — Part of the Chinstrap Penguin Rookery

A busy Chinstrap Penguin on his way to the sea in Antarctica — A busy Chinstrap Penguin on his way to the sea

That evening, our ship navigated into the seawater-filled crater of Deception Island, sailing around inside the active volcano.

Skua looking for penguin eggs in Antarctica — Skua hunting for penguin eggs

Sea ice and icebergs in the waters of Antarctica

Ice burg in Antarctica — Glacier in Paradise Bay

Massive Iceberg in Antarctica — Massive Iceberg

Sea ice and ice burgs in the waters of Antarctica

Walking down the stairs of the ship to board the zodiac in a South Georgia bay — Boarding the zodiacs

Paradise Bay

Brown Argentina Base and Research Station on Antarctica

Clear glacial ice in the bay of Antarctica — Clear glacial ice in the bay

Leopard Seal in Antarctica — Leopard Seal in the bay we were to swim

Leopard Seal next to an expedition boat — Leopard Seal

Orcas by Massimo Bassano of Albatross Expeditions

The People

An white Arctic Tern against a blue sky in South Georgia — “The Arctic Tern is so beautiful and graceful yet feisty. It is the only bird that will go up against the polar bears” -Michael Scotting Photo also captured by Michael Scotting

From Left to right: Pete, Carole, Sarah, Kirsten, Bonnie, Vivian, Charlotte, and Peter.

Nils The Viking — Nils, The Viking, a man of iron in a world of plastic

Mischievous Carol climbing a ladder on the top deck of the ship — Carol at the top of the ladder that was forbidden to go up. Peter and Carol had just the right amount of mischievousness mixed with humor.

My wonderful roommate Vivian and me on a warm summer day in Antarctica. We stayed up too late a few times talking and laughing about travel, spreadsheets, and life in general.

David Reid and Bonnie Truax on the ship docked in Ushuaia — David Reid and Bonnie Truax

BONUS: Here David Reid below spake about one of his adventures in the Arctic.

About The Author

Bonnie Truax

Retired from Corporate America at the age of 43 along with her husband Trinity. In 2016 they sold their home to begin a nomadic life of slow travel. Bonnie writes of their experience on the road in each country. Subscribe to follow her stories here.

10 thoughts on “Antarctic”

Jackie
February 24, 2019 at 5:30 pm

Another great blog about Antarctica. Absolutely loved the pictures and great food for thought! Looking at something through somebody else’s eyes can really change how we see things – good or bad – depending on how that person sees things.
Reply
1. Bonnie Truax
  February 24, 2019 at 5:47 pm
  
  I agree with you. The people we hang around impact how we see the world.
  Reply
thedragonsonfire
February 24, 2019 at 9:14 pm

Penguins have always been one of my favorite animals. So far I have only seen them in zoos, which is definitely not the same. The pictures of them here and on South Georgia were amazing!
How was the boat trip across the open waters? We have a friend that often talks about going (we travel together a lot), but I always freeze up at the idea of the boat trip as I have heard it can be quite rough and we don’t do well in those situations at all.
Dragon Guy
Reply
1. Bonnie Truax
  February 24, 2019 at 11:27 pm
  
  We were very fortunate to have excellent weather for our entire trip. We experienced what is called the Drake Lake. Often, however, the Drake Passage is more like the Drake Shake and it can get quite rough. I was actually a little disappointed to not experience the Drake power, but the entire crew told me that I really didn’t want to experience it.
  Not sure I can say a rough passage would be worth it since I didn’t experience that, but personally it would be totally worth the risk. If you take a longer cruise that goes to South Georgia first then you limit your time on the Drake passage as you would miss most of it on the way down by going around it.
  Either way, I encourage you to go. We booked our trip through Freestyle Adventure. They gave us the best deal we could find.
  Reply
Emma & Nathan’s Travels
February 25, 2019 at 2:19 pm

Wow!!! What an amazing experience! The photos are breathtaking!! I loved Ushuaia and hope to return one day to visit Antarctica!
Reply
1. Bonnie Truax
  February 25, 2019 at 2:21 pm
  
  Thank you! I hope you get the opportunity to go as well. It is an amazing place.
  Reply
Christy Mcgreger
March 1, 2019 at 10:09 am

I love your pictures. I just got back from an Antarctica cruise on February 3 and we also had awesome weather. We left from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Around the Horn, Paradise Bay, Elephant Island, Faulkland Islands, Uraguay, YES the Drake Shake is real– we sailed around a storm, and it still felt like Lieutenant Dan on top of the Shrimp boat. (Loved it all!)
Reply
1. Bonnie Truax
  March 1, 2019 at 10:20 am
  
  Your trip sounds amazing! I wish we could have experienced the shake, but everyone tells me I really don’t want to 🙂 Did you find the shake exciting to go through?
  Reply
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers
March 3, 2019 at 12:42 pm

Perfecto post!
Reply
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