Penguins galore (!) at typical Zodiac landing on South George en-route to Antarctica

"One Photographer and a Million Penguins" - Saint Andrews, South Georgia

Jan 21st: Wheels-up at Denver International Airport for a longggg flight!

Jan 22nd: About 7,500 air miles and 30 hours later - shortly before landing in Ushuaia, Argentina

Jan 23rd: Spending a day in Terra Del Fuego Park

Jan 23rd: The Ocean Nova shortly before departure from Ushuaia, Argentina

Jan 24th: Giant Antarctica Petrel as we cruised on the Scotia Sea from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands

Jan 25th: Zodiacs shuttling passengers from the Ocean Nova to West Point Island - Falklands

Jan 25th: Rockhopper Penguin and Albatross Rookery on West Point Island

Jan 25th: Black-browed Albatross on West Point Island

Jan 25th: Gentoo Penguins scurry up the hill from a beach on Carcass Island - Falklands

Jan 25th: Alek keeps his distance from a Hugenormous (!) Magellanic Penguin on Carcass Island

Jan 25th: Falkland hospitality at the McGill homestead on Carcass Island

Jan 26th: The Union Jack flying over Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands

Jan 27th: We spot a Southern Right Whale while cruising in the Western Scotia Sea

Jan 29th: Diversity of wildlife as seen during morning Zodiac Cruise around Elsehul Harbor, South Georgia

Jan 29th: Penguin Party at Salisbury Plains, South George - mouseover to see "returning to ship" picture

Jan 29th: Baby fur Seals checking out my camera - mouseover image to see the resulting picture! ;-)

Jan 30th: Cruising into Fortuna Bay where we hiked the last part of the Shackleton Walk to Stromness

Jan 30th: The Fortuna Bay fur seals also liked to check out the cameraman!

Jan 30th: Our 4 mile hike wasn't quite an epic journey like Shackleton's and we also didn't lose a single person! ;-)

Jan 30th: Paul "holds up" the Ocean Nova in Stromness Bay, South Georgia ;-)

Feb 30th: Lots of people hung out for a while on this peaceful grassy plateau just above Stromness Harbor

Jan 30th: An albino fur seal - mouseover image to see head back on straight

Jan 31st: Jim hanging out with a million Penguins at Saint Andrews, South Georgia

Jan 31st: Another picturesque view of Saint Andrews, South Georgia

Jan 31st: Penguin Huddle - "OK, you fake left and go right, you run a buttonhook, and you go deep - BREAK!"

Jan 31st: Former whaling station of Grytviken, South Georgia

Feb 1st: Drygalski Fjord, South Georgia - the water is over 200 meters deep here!

Feb 1st: This was a pretty active glacier with lots of calving - note the birds high-tailing it outa there!

Feb 1st: Incredibly colorful icebergs float by towering glaciated South Georgia mountains

Feb 1st: Macaroni Penguin at Cooper Bay - mouseover to see close-up with reflection of me taking the picture! ;-)

Feb 3rd: Penguins on Iceberg near British Antarctic Survey Signy Base in the South Orkney Islands

Feb 3rd: A brief stop on land at the halfway point between South Georgia and Antarctica

Feb 4th: Sunset at 9:19PM on the Scotia Sea - mouseover image to see 3 minutes later

Feb 5th: approaching Antarctica - taken at 3:32AM which was 63 minutes before a glorious sunrise

Feb 5th: An Antarctic bird flies by just before sunrise - mouseover image for close-up

Feb 5th: A few minutes after sunrise as others enjoy the experience

Feb 5th: Beautiful morning for our first Antarctica landing at Brown Bluff

Feb 5th: Invasion of the Adelie Penguins!!! (mouseover image to see 'em move)

Feb 5th: The Adelie's were actually very friendly - mouseover to see Carol with her another of her "assistants"

Feb 5th: Gentoo Penguins also "posed" for close-in photos!

Feb 5th: Here's a close-up of his feet - mouseover image to see if he needs a manicure! ;-)

Feb 6th: The Clipper Adventurer (and a Leopard Seal) passes by in the Errera Channel

This ship ended up taking the Ocean Nova's passengers 12 days later

Feb 6th: We passed the Europa, a smaller and more rustic ship later on in the channel

Feb 6th: A Skua about to take flight - mouseover image to see me taking the picture

Feb 6th: Gentoo Penguins making their way down the poop stained snow pathways - mouseover to see 'em in action

Feb 6th: We found a Snowman in Antarctica - mouseover image for less serious picture

Feb 6th: View from the Zodiac as we enter Neko Harbor, Antarctica

Feb 6th: View from ashore looking back at the Ocean Nova

Feb 6th: It was fascinating to watch the bonding between the parents and chicks

A darn cute pair of Gentoo Penguin chicks - mouseover image to see the family in action

Feb 6th: Gentoo Penguins go for a swim - mouseover to see next underwater stroke

Feb 6th: We saw (and heard) several spectacular glacier calvings - mouseover image to see the whole arch fall!

Feb 6th: Captain Alexey keeps a close eye on the Orlova in the Lemaire Channel that evening

Feb 6th: Ocean Nova Cabin #309 - my "home" for almost three weeks

Feb 7th: Alek at Port Charcot - our last stop in Antarctica

Feb 7th: Glen got the shot of Paul, James, and Kyle doing the "Polar Plunge" in sub-zero salt water! Video

Feb 7th: The last Antarctic wildlife as photographed from the Zodiac on the way back to the ship

Feb 7th: The last passenger off the last Zodiac signs in - me!

Feb 7th: One of several piles of Wellington Boots - the wooden "boot remover" (back left) worked great

Feb 7th: Looking back at the Zodiac gangway as everything is stowed away

Feb 7th: This was posted nearby ... glad we never needed it ... but the next Ocean Nova trip did! ;-)

Feb 7th: Last view of Antarctica - mouseover image for view without the ship in it

Feb 8th: Alek reviewing pictures despite not feeling too well - more due to a cold than the rough seas

Feb 9th: Kyle, James, and Paul enjoy the last evening onboard the ship

Feb 9th: I gave the slide show the last night onboard the Ocean Nova - mouseover image for other picture

We docked the morning of Feb 10th, 2009 - it felt good to be back on land after 19 days at sea!

The Ocean Nova would depart that evening with a new Captain and another group of passengers

On Feb 17th, the Ocean Nova ran aground in Marguerite Bay near the Argentine research station San Martin

It was eventually freed and all crew/passengers were fine - more details/pics here