Today our first excursion is a ride in the SOB to the Giribaldi glacier. I didn’t expect quite so many waterfalls. Every few feet there was a pretty impressive falls coming from mountains. 
Along with magnificent rock walls, the trip started out lovely. We were hoping to get our SOB close to the glacier. There seemed to be very little ice flow in the water surrounding us so we are hopeful we can get close to the glacier itself. 
there was the occasional floating ice
Then all of a sudden there was lots more! It was fresh fall and there was a worry that our boat would get caught inside the ice as it pushed together so we quickly made our way to peek at the glacier and then high tail it back a ways.. with almost 900 horse power, this baby can really go when needed!
A view of the ice and the glacier. This glacier is made up of two river glaciers coming together. 
The dark center line is where they meet.
Larger ice
Look closely.. there is a white bird on the rick. I know I’m supposed to remember the names of all these birds but wow, its all i can do to get the picture!
Increased ice flow!
Sitting in our shock absorbent seats while the SOB flies down the water. After a hour of speeding through ice we headed back to our room before lunch and found this little guy waiting for us!a Magellan penguin as a gift from Viking! I gotta say..the gifts keep coming and even though in my head I know we probably paid for this stuff with our fare, it still is fun and special when something shows up unexpected.
Lunch included a long 10 foot chocolate bar next to a 6ft cheese bar. We managed to get far away and eat healthy first… then chocolate and cheese!!!!!To work off the delightful lunch we headed back out in a zodiac to do more exploring. 
In the zodiac . Our driver,Laura, gave us the usual safety lecture and off we went. The beauty of the zodiac today is that we can slowly cruise along the shoreline and look for wildlife. Because of the distance the ship had to stop, due to the ice, the zodiacs don’t have enough power to get through the ice field close to the glacier..so this trip we look for wildlife.
Oh ,Sandy! How I wish you were here along with all my rock loving friends! The striating coastline from Technonic plate movement ( see how I sounded scientific there?) has made the most wonderful rock viewing!!!
And when looking at the rocks you need to look carefully and closely and perhaps you will be rewarded!
A nesting pair of kelp ducks? Anyway, no matter what they were, it sure was fun to see this pair. I keep forgetting that it’s spring here and of course its the right time for nesting!
Another pair of birds! The female is the darker one.
This was quite the waterfall…and of course we decided to get close and personal with it. Afterall what fun is just looking at waterfalls without really experiencing..
Getting close
Closer
Closer yet ( note the white drops in the picture)
Closest! Sitting underneath and getting hit with cold mountain stream water! After the spring shower there was just enough time to head back to the ship and get the toys put away before we sail away from the Chilean Fjords and head excitedly towards the Cape Horn. It was undecided if the weather would bless us with being able to take the long way around to Ushuaia Argentina. The weather Gods must be with us this trip because shortly before we leave the Captain notifies us that the Cape will be our next agenda item! To think I am getting to travel in luxury comfort around one of the most dangerous passages that early explorers died trying to do….It blows my mind to think about it! Here I am with anything I want available to me and Magellan,Darwin,Anson, the crew of the Wager all barely survived making it around the Horn… I am so damn lucky to be alive and able to experience this!
In the zodiac . Our driver,Laura, gave us the usual safety lecture and off we went. The beauty of the zodiac today is that we can slowly cruise along the shoreline and look for wildlife. Because of the distance the ship had to stop, due to the ice, the zodiacs don’t have enough power to get through the ice field close to the glacier..so this trip we look for wildlife.
Oh ,Sandy! How I wish you were here along with all my rock loving friends! The striating coastline from Technonic plate movement ( see how I sounded scientific there?) has made the most wonderful rock viewing!!!
A nesting pair of kelp ducks? Anyway, no matter what they were, it sure was fun to see this pair. I keep forgetting that it’s spring here and of course its the right time for nesting!
Another pair of birds! The female is the darker one. 
This was quite the waterfall…and of course we decided to get close and personal with it. Afterall what fun is just looking at waterfalls without really experiencing..
Getting close
Closer
Closer yet ( note the white drops in the picture)
Closest! Sitting underneath and getting hit with cold mountain stream water! After the spring shower there was just enough time to head back to the ship and get the toys put away before we sail away from the Chilean Fjords and head excitedly towards the Cape Horn. It was undecided if the weather would bless us with being able to take the long way around to Ushuaia Argentina. The weather Gods must be with us this trip because shortly before we leave the Captain notifies us that the Cape will be our next agenda item! To think I am getting to travel in luxury comfort around one of the most dangerous passages that early explorers died trying to do….It blows my mind to think about it! Here I am with anything I want available to me and Magellan,Darwin,Anson, the crew of the Wager all barely survived making it around the Horn… I am so damn lucky to be alive and able to experience this!
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