We set sail for Port Charcot Island on Sunday 8 March, where we’d get not one but two opportunities to get off the boat.
But before all that I filled the morning with a couple of activities.
I went and looked at phytoplankton and zooplankton under microscopes. Fun!
There’s a whole universe in a few drops of water, chain-like phytoplankton and minuscule bug-like zooplankton waiting to be discovered.
I’m pretty sure I saw the zooplankton breathe…or at least breathe its last breath.
I then went to a lecture on the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, an almost unbelievable tale of science, survival, and stupid luck at the end of the 19th century.
The historian who told the tale, Adrian, was excellent and had everyone captivated. History done right!
Glen and I went for lunch, stuffing our faces again at the buffet, before going to get ready for our landing on Port Charcot.
Landing on Port Charcot
Port Charcot is a 2.4 km wide bay at the north of Booth Island.
We got in our zodiac and sped across to the island, where we were disgorged onto the rocky shore and given an hour to explore.
To the right was a big colony of Gentoo Penguins (as well as a proper penguin highway carved into the ice); to the left more Gentoo Penguins and a hike up a snow-covered hill to get a commanding view of the surrounds.
We went left.
The Gentoo Penguins (a mix of adults, juveniles, full-feathered, and moulting) were dotted in amongst the rocks, as well as a few fur seals.
Some of the penguins were curious and came close to investigate; others just wanted to get around, which was difficult when some stupid people decided to just keep walking up to them despite restrictions to the contrary.
We had to stop a couple of times to let the penguins through, which was totally fine as it gives you the chance to watch them some more.
We walked over mud and melted snow sludge coloured red with the remains of krill that the penguins had eaten, then hiked up the hill to the top where we could see all around us and the two iceberg cemeteries in the distance.
Photos taken at the top, we returned to the bottom, but ran out of time to continue up the other side to see yet more penguins.
We returned to the boat and Glen went to bed. An hour later I went out on the Port Charcot cruising expedition without him.
Cruising Port Charcot
For 45 minutes we zipped around the icebergs, not getting too close because of the danger of them flipping/breaking.
Crabeater Seals lounged on a few of them, and there were plenty of Gentoo Penguins swimming in the water in schools flocks, jumping in and out around us. A real treat!
Thankfully it wasn’t too cold and we didn’t freeze to death.
We returned to the ship at about 5, I went for a quick dip in the jacuzzi, and then, wouldn’t you know it, it was time for dinner again.
After dinner, I watched the next day’s briefing where we’d be going to Spert Island, then I went up to the bar to look out the window, chat to people, and read my book.
But checking the app for what was happening tomorrow, I realised that we were down for kayaking and had to be ready at 8 so it wasn’t a late one.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?