Cierva Cove. Monday, February 11

Kayak experience.  Minke whale trying to play with kayaks.  Truly amazing!  And probably more dangerous than we realized at the time, thanks to the kayak guides.  We felt brave that we did the kayaking including transfers between zodiacs and from zodiac to kayak.

Afternoon zodiac tour through the ice at Cierva Cove.  Set designer of Titanic must have taken an Antarctic cruise.  Saw leopard seals.  Scenic cruising in Bancroft Bay to see many whales, none as exciting as our Minke this morning.

·        Today was our kayak day so we get up at 6:30 because they want us down there ½ hour before the 8am start. Have to get into full body suits.  Only hiccup is that the booties are wet (my feet later feel cold).  Quite difficult to get into the suits and you need help finalizing.

·        Our one other experience with kayaks wasn’t so good.  On the Williamette and it was a struggle.  I/we tell the family we're with (father was neurosurgeon and they’ve just retired to Coeur d’Alene Idaho) that we’re nervous and they tell us it will be fine.  Then proceed to talk non stop about trips they’ve been on.  Bob & Rose, and MJP’s trivia couple also in this grouping.  8*2 plus 2 Expedition Team in single kayaks and one on zodiac.  Realize later that’s useful so he can monitor overall picture along with helping us back into zodiac.

·        Should realize by now that Seabourn doesn’t leave much to chance.  We’re to hop off the zodiac and into the kayak.  2 staff hold bow and stern of kayak and someone holds strap of jacket from your back.

·        Once Anton gets us over and we transfer to the kayaker’s Zodiac they tell us that we’re going to have to play it a little by ear.  The kayaks have been tied up in a string and a whale has been going up and bumping into them.

·        Eventually they make the decision that it’s OK to proceed.  Suspect that a)whale wasn’t in sight, and b)they didn’t want to disappoint guests.

·        They load us in.  We futz around.  We assemble and paddle away and the minke whale that they’d seen before we were brought out becomes more interested.  At first we don’t see it but then it’s obvious.

·        Robert the Kayaks leader (we later have dinner with him) tells us to all cluster together and NOT have paddles extended over the sides of the kayak.  We spend a bunch of time that way.  The whale has lots of interest in us. We think the guides might have been a bit nervous.  After a time he has us break up, paddle away saying not to rush or splash too much.  But to be conscious of being able to at least pair up. 

·        We get an extra ½ hour.  Guides keep saying minke are shy and that this just doesn’t happen!

·        Multiple whale passes under zodiac, under and around kayaks!

·        Even though they say that obviously this whale was friendly they don’t take the next group to it.

·        We later hear from others that they’d announced it on the ship.  We’re wondering what was said?   “Next kayaks out will be delayed ½ hour because there’s a whale playing with the current group -- watch from the bow”.  But result is we're able to talk about the experience the rest of the trip and people are envious.

·        Lunch is once more poor service.  Nearly done with first plate of food then I go up to get soda since no one has come by.  At end of second plate I go up for refill because no one at all has come by.

·        Cut through pool on way to room and run into the people we’d waited in BA customs line with at beginning of trip.

·        Heading out for our afternoon zodiac trip which was fun and is what was scheduled for everyone today.  No landings..  Trevor drove us through choppy ice that i thought would destroy the motor.  Said he was going to do it the Scottish way, slow and gentle.  He got us to 2 seals (on ice floes), and I spotted a 3rd in the distance.   Was complimented for “good spot”.

·        Cheering at the end of day summary by Chris.  I feel like the Tom Cruise character from Top Gun (you guys were the ones).  Pre-summary briefing, our kayak group gets together.  Turns out Bob (Seattle) pix were the best.  Ed and Carol (off in Ushuaia) were also in group.

·        Dinner.  We arrived for the line at the start because we left at the start of the flora and fauna lecture.  We’ve had such bad luck with dinner with 1 other couple that we asked for a 2 seat.  They gave us the worst one in the place.  We ask to move.  Treated fine by Moustafa and Junior (woman -- 6th of 7 kids, from Zimbabwe?).

·        Went up at 830 for 9pm viewing start of whales.  Asked for hot chocolate and told no.  Slow burn and go looking for hotel director.  Don’t find him but run into Julian the Purser.  He offered that I meet with his partner, the Services manager Nic Botha.