January 8, 2024: Kayaking Brown Bluff, Antarctica
It’s the first day of Antarctic adventures. The first time to get off the boat and onto land… or, rather, into a kayak! We wake up extra early (6:30am room service delivery) to be in the mudroom for the 7:30am gear handout. All 12 of us soon-to-be kayakers get a dry suit, booties, neoprene mittens, a life vest, and a dry bag… and then it’s back to our rooms to put on all the things over all the thermals. Two thermal tops, two thermal bottoms, two socks, buff, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, topped off with the dry suit, booties, and life vest. If you’re not overheating, you’re probably underdressed.
Twelve kayakers, two kayak guides, and two zodiac drivers head out on the zodiac (read: small rubber boat) to where the kayaks are already waiting for us. One at a time, we swing our legs over the side of the zodiac, into our respective seats in the kayaks. And off we go! Rule of thumb: if the water is calm, then the person in the front of the kayak is the photo-taker and the person in the back is the paddler.
Penguins are porpusing (jumping in and out of the water) on all sides, and there’s a colony on shore with more penguins than I’ve ever seen before. The penguins must think that we belong in the water with them, since one of them porpuses close enough to our kayak to splash me! Have you ever been splashed by a penguin? I can assure you it’s a life-changing experience.
You might be wondering how many photos to take while kayaking in a majestic landscape, surrounded by penguins? The answer is 1,000. And then keep the best 10-20%. At least in my experience…
After the allotted kayaking experience, it’s time to get back in the zodiac and head back to the ship. But wait there’s more! If you’re lucky enough, you may get to also do the “landing” or “zodiac” outing that the rest of the boat experienced while you were kayaking. But be prepared for the kayaking to be the highlight and to *possibly* overshadow all other outings on your trip :)
