Day 6- Saturday November 25, 2023 - Cape Horn and Wailui Bay

By Ellen Outten

 


Another early morning ride but absolutely worth it today.  We all met at 6:45 am for our first zodiac ride over to Cape Horn Island.  

Layered up with thermal underwear, flannel shirt, LL Bean winter anorak, hat, gloves and neck warmer, I felt like the little kid that gets dressed up to play in the snow.  Then the life jacket on top.

There's no elevator on this Expedition Ship.  Our stateroom is on Deck 2, Dining hall in deck 1, all lectures and all disembarkation takes place on deck 5. I'm getting my steps in!

Getting loaded into the he zodiac isn't hard and we received with a lot of help from the crew.  You sit on the edge of the boat and swing both legs over together to get out of in.  The boat fits 12 people and one crew member at the back to steer the outboard motor.

The Parque Nacional Cabo de Hornos is a Chilian national park which includes nine islands.   We landed on the furthest island, Cabo de Hornos.

There isn't much on the island.  105 steps will put on the top to take pictures.  If you're inclined, you can walk to the lighthouse and talk with the family that lives there with their family.  This family will be there, alone, for 2 years.


















Breakfast was served when we got back from Cape Horn.  Breakfast was served as a buffet and lunch and dinner served plated with several choices 

Wulaia Bay is the 2nd excursion for the day at 3:30. 

There are no inhabitants on the island.  There's a barrel which is called a post office. You deposit your completed post card and can pick up others to deliver if the address is near to your home.

As a group, we were able to get a tour of the bridge 






Another zodiac ride to another island, this afternoon. Wayne stayed in board. 
L

We walked into the forest this afternoon and our guide told us about the people who lived here and their culture. Can you imagine the indigenous people lived in this climate, naked eating seals and other fish caught. In their winter, it gets to - 30 Celsius.  They used the seal blubber for a coating on their skin to make themselves, somewhat waterproof and to keep our the cold.



Bread fruit in the trees 




Enough for tonight. Tomorrow we zodiac out to a glacier and walk around near and maybe on it.

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