To Foreign Shores

We lifted anchor and set off from Antarctica on St. Patrick’s Day, in the afternoon. We had one last zodiac landing in the morning at Half-Moon Bay. There were dozens of fur seals, thousands of chinstrap penguins, a few Weddell seals, and one lonely Macaroni penguin, trying to blend in with the chinstraps. Macaroni’s have what look like huge bushy yellow eyebrows, but this poor little guy looked pretty bedraggled, as he was molting.

The mood onboard is somber and reflective. Gone is the joyous expectation of discovering new lands. Now each of us must face the return to jobs, long flights, and sad world news. But along with this I look forward to seeing my loved ones, my dogs, and a Missouri springtime with the promise of a new garden. I’ll always remember this trip to the bottom of the world, to Terra Incognita. The early explorers, upon returning to their homelands, had difficulty readjusting to their old lives. Many wrote about hearing the little voices that bid them to return to this continent of wonder. Perhaps I too will hear these voices and return. Perhaps.