Day 4 – 30 12 12 –King Penguin Tour – Tierra del Fuego.

After a brilliant but short sleep we were up at 5.15 for early breaky in readiness for our departure on our King Penguin tour on Tierra del Fuego Island at 6.30.

15 of our crew joined our driver Jose and guide Rodriguez on the 16 seater bus.

We travelled through the country side and alongside the Magellan Strait for a couple of hours. It was good to see what is looks like, pretty harsh and hungry looking country.  They farm it mainly for sheep (or sheeeps as Rodriguez said) beef and guanaco/llamas. We saw some guanacos (which are the native llama type animal) some Carachos which are carrion birds.

The area also houses several petrol and gas plants.

We arrived at the ferry crossing, which took us and several other vehicles across the Magellan Strait to the Island of Tierra del Fuego (TdF), it was only a 20 minute ride. While waiting for our ferry – the ‘Patagonia’ we had a wander around the lighthouse at the ferry landing. TdF is half and half Chilean and is about the size of Ireland.

We stopped off for a look around the first farm in the area – Estancia San Gregorio, which was built in 1876, nearby was a ship – the Amadeo and barge Ambassador that had been run aground in 1936.

After another 30 minutes or so, we arrived at a paddock in the middle of nowhere to the sign ”Parque Penguino Rey,” we are at the King Penguins. We broke into two groups and visited with two groups of King Penguins, one on the rocky beach and another group beside an inlet with spinifex like grass in the paddock. OMG, they were stunningly beautiful to look at, they are just so well groomed and perfectly preened, with white, grey, gold, yellow and blue colourings – just like Happy Feet. There were probably about 40 penguins all up and we had one hour to play penguin paparazzi, it was very exciting. This colony had disappeared many years ago and have only returned to TdF in the past two years, no one really knows why.

We then   boarded the bus for another couple of hours travel along a more picturesque coastline to Porvenir, where we stopped for a drink and then to board the 2 and half hour ferry ride back to Punta Arenas at 5.00. On this trip we had views across the Magellan strait again towards the Argentinean side of the island with amazing views of snow capped mountains on Dawson Island.

The port area at Porvenir, had many boats in the harbour, ranging from small and large fishing boats to a pretty swanky looking Armada  vessel.

The trip back was chilly, spent most of it up on deck watching the straits go by along with some dolphins and birds.

We arrived back in Punta Arenas at 7.30, then it was  back to the hotel, where we couldn’t be fed in the dining room prior to our 9.30pm meeting with Aurora Expeditions’ – John Horlick. His briefing informed us that the weather is not looking good for our flight to Antarctica. There were winds and fog predicted, which meant pilot couldn’t land on the gravel strip at the Chilean Frei base on King George Island, using visual means. So while all trying to keep a positive attitude, a few of us went out for dinner, we ended up at a restaurant called Jekus, the service was slow, and Mary and I chose poorly and ended up with HUGE, but delicious meals, honestly we could have fed the whole table with ONE of our meals, it was a range of meats and vegies and chips all piled together, with pickled onions and other bits I can’t remember.

Eventually home after midnight,  we had to pack in readiness for a possible departure anytime from 2am onwards.

 Estancia San Gregorio - First farm in Tierra del Fuego.

 Wreck of the barque - Ambassador.

 The lighthouse at the ferry terminal to Tierra del Fuego.

 Waiting for our ferry...Gay, Kate, Gary and Rob.

 Our ferry for the 20 minute crossing to Tierra del Fuego - the 'Patagonia'

 Some of the harsh Chilean countryside. The white spots are a type of carrion bird - Carancho

 Our arrival the Penguin Park. Really just a paddock in the middle of nowhere...

 OMG - our first sight of penguins, these are King Penguins...we won't see these guys in Antarctica...fabulous to see them today.

 and again...check out the sensational mountains in the background.

 Just to prove I was really there... and very happy about it too.

 A few decided to head off inland to where another group were clustered, with half our lot looking at them, we sort of followed these guys to the second viewing spot.

 Here go three on a march to the inland group of King Penguins...very cute. Hup, two, three, four.

 Here's the inland crew, we were probably a bit closer than the beach lot.

 Absolutely, stunning birds...just so neat and tidy and clean and colourful.

 Check it out!!!!!

 And again...I can't imagine how many photos I took.

 Some amazing little flowers and vegetation, amongst this harsh looking paddock.

 A cute cabin on wheels, somewhere on our 13 hour journey to spend an hour with the Penguins.

 and a cute little yellow boat to match.

 Mary with some mountains of TdF and Magellan Strait behind her.

 The harbour at Porvenir where we caught the 2 and half hour ferry back to Punta Arenas.

 Some of the fishing boats at Porvenir...guessing the tide was out.

 Our ferry all flagged up and ready to go.

 Leaving Porvenir, I really liked the shape of this point and the colours too.

 Linda Zweirlein, Mary and Margaretha - all part of our Teacher group for Antarctic trip on board the ferry. It was pretty cool, Linda just doesn't feel it like the rest of us.

 All out of order...sorry this is the farm again.

 Wreck of the Amadeo run aground with the barque Ambassador.

 Arriving on our first ferry, welcome to Tierra del Fuego - land of fires.

 Oh, here I am again, cheesily pleased to be spending time with the penguins.

 Finally back in Punta Arenas, we have had our Antarctic briefing, out for tea at 10.30 - not dark yet. Liked the Punta Arenas version of the phone booth, not sure Superman would approve.

Mary and I miscalculated with our order, the meal was huge....and we had one EACH!!!!