Holiday Boating

A two-day weekend for the holidays, and the weather delivers with a gorgeous day. Christmas Eve- sunny, calm winds and 42 degrees.

Some friends and I went out in a boat to enjoy the day. We landed at Delaca Island, hiked around a bit and enjoyed the scenery. Antarctic Terns, Wilson Storm Petrels and Skuas all around us as we scrambled our way to the top.

After a nice walk around the island and a short nap in the sun, we loaded back into the boat. Just off shore, a chinstrap penguin porpoised around the boat and then tried to jump in! He launched out of the water and bounced off the side of the boat. He tried three or four times, but never made it in. Perhaps he was trying to get away from a hungry seal.

We headed off towards Humble Island where a leopard seal was spotted on an ice floe. Sure enough, we found it. It probably had had it's big holiday meal because like my Uncle Laverne at every family Christmas, the seal napped in its recliner after the feast. I'm sure if seals wore pants, its belt and button would be undone.