Some people are crazy (LeMaire Channel, Petermann Island and Booth island) - 28 January 2009

I came to Antarctica without any preconceptions.  Truthfully I came because Jennifer really, really, really wanted to come here.  I'm in the minority, though.  We were told about a passenger on a previous trip who pitched a hissy because (Edited) she didn't get to see the LeMaire Channel and "if you haven't seen the LeMaire Channel, you haven't seen Antarctica!"  Evidently she spent the rest of the trip in her cabin because she was so upset.

Personally, I didn't even know what the LeMaire Channel was, but it turns out to be a very scenic part of the trip.  Unfortunately I'm not all that happy with my pictures from it, so you'll have to settle for my word and another glacier shot:

The morning's landing was Petermann Island, where we saw yet another species of penguin, the Adelie.  My favorite part?  They slide on their bellies:



And, perhaps my favorite photo from Antarctica, the Vulture Penguin:

I mentioned previously how curious the penguin chicks are, and here's an example:

This little fellow worked his way through the line checking each of us out as we waited to board the zodiac back to the boat.

After Petermann Island, we moved on to Booth Island. The Gentoos here walk the same paths over and over, and have worn trails into the snow that are deeper than they are tall. You'll just get a glance of their little penguin heads as they trundle along. Here's several of them walking one of the trails:

Too bad Jen didn't take me up on my offer to be on YouTube.