Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctic Peninsula

Continental Antarctica proved to be very interesting, this time I was much more prepared regarding having one hiking pole instead of two. When I got up to the first colony, I managed to get pictures of two Gentoo penguins mating while another penguin steals rocks from them. After they had finished a large skewer landed right above them, but was soon hustled away by the brave penguins.

In light of my dehydration problems from before I opted to just stay near the colony. It was also a fantastic place to see these penguins trying to toboggan uphill and downhill which proved to be somewhat difficult for them, but they seemed very committed. We even saw an Adelie penguin mixed in with the chin straps.

Spending New Years exploring Wilhelmina Bay with my dad at the helm of our zodiac was an unbelievable experience. We managed to get out and stand on fast ice which was exhilarating. Our friend Julie even suggested that she hoped we could get stuck and use the rations in our zodiac. She was joking of course, but it was still a very amusing but equally scary thought.

My whole family was cooperative in my attempts to have a photo shoot on the water with the lovely Brook + Bay hats and Tough Outfitter gloves. They kept us warm. I think that what helped us the most was when the hotel team on the ship came to all of the boats with Baileys and hot chocolate. It was probably my favorite day of my One Ocean Antarctica & South Georgia Trip and will cherish that memory forever.

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