Day 17 - Jason Harbour and Prion Island

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It was not a long trip from Ocean Harbour to our next stop, Jason Harbour, we arrived there soon after dinner, and had a quiet night anchoring there, albeit quite windy.

We had a clear sky morning for the first time since leaving leaving the Falklands, what a colourful landscape was presented.

In the distance, we can make out signs of wildlives, seals, penguins rookeries, all in an isolated World of their own.

But further out of the harbour, the swells were quite visible !

Wind was gathering as we board the our zodiac, fortunately, the gusts were infrequent, so there were occasional halts and changing the right side of the boat to alight.

It was very good to hear that Sandi was able to loan other cameras from other folks, so between few of us, she would be able to have a good camera to use everyday, wonderful.

We landed on the western end of a pebble beach, and went through a crop of rocks, into a lagoon.

But not before passing some of these feisty but lovely fur seals.  The parent is just being protective, that's nature !

For whatever reasons, these were the departed ones.

But everyone was having their own share of sun, probably not a frequent occurence. And we too.

As we made our way back to the landing beach after walking into the end of the lagoon, we had to cross an expanse of tussac coated grassland, with an intricate network of swampy pools. 

Whilst navigating, we need to be mindful of the repelling barks of the fur seals, not happy with our trespassing.  But they did no more than posturing, never more than that.  One yell back, would see their back.

This giant Pretrel came hunting..for the unprotected penguin chicks or steal an egg.

There stood its potential preys.

There were schools of King Penguins dotted throughout the landscape, some even quite up high on the slopes as well.

Everyone was basking the rare sunlight.

Thanks to those of us "sacrificing their rights" to fur coats, these were in near extinction about 70 years ago, are now recovering in health numbers.

So it was time to leave, and we kept sailing north for anther hard to forget experience.

Before lunch, we saw the last of Jason Harbour, not before passing the majestic Mt Paget and its glaciers.

As we were chucking along north..... hope she's got good brakes.  The first boat we encountered to afford us this perspective, the Near Edge Phenomenon ("NEP") as the Flat-Earth Society termed it.

The sunny condition continued, so was the wind. We finally anchored at the Bay of Isles, directly north of King Haaken Bay where we first landed on South Georgia, but on the northern side behind all the mountains.

Dictated by the number of visitors who can land on Prion Island at any one time, we were split into two groups.  Our group went first to explore the caves on our zodiac with wonderful lichens or mosses, whatever it is, the colours are remarkable.

The sea has a big forest of kelp, often time, I wondered if our dingy can even get through it, but it did, but not without a fair bit of stop/start maneuvering.

These gentoo penguins are either on their way home, or just curious to come and check us out.  It seems that, when they porpoise, their belly balloon up.

Finally it was our turn to land on Prion Island, with a big greeting party of gentoo penguins.

It was a board walk climb of about 50 meters in height up, what do have here ?! A fresh dollop of fur seal gaga !!  

And King Haaken Bay should be just behind those mountains to the south.

At the top, we all took an vantage point, to observe the rituals happening in the nesting grounds of Albatrosses and Giant Petrels.

Sky calling for a mate ?!

First, there were two, courting.

Then came an intruder....it appeared that there were not enough females.

So, let's sort this out, pal !!

Others are busy minding their own.

Reluctantly, it was the end of another epic day, as the sun was about to set.

After every tag were turned with number side up, we were on our way.  This was our most northern point of this visit to South Georgia.

Thanks to the clever rejigging of the itinerary by Christen the tour leader and Captain Yuri, we were able to avoid the rough weather in this area a few days ago, but now we have to retrace back down south.  Tomorrow, we were planned to do a few hours of hiking over some mountains, hopefully, the weather would be agreeable.

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