31/3 – Land Ahoy! Stanley in the Falklands.

Awoke feeling very ordinary at 2.30, noticed a glow on the horizon, wondered about Aurora but no colour. Steve woke a little later and had a look also. No idea what it was.

Then it was back to sleep after a while. And awoken by Howard’s announcement at 6.30 that we were nearing the Falklands and would be picking up the pilot at 7.30. So up to the observation deck to watch our arrival through the narrows, collecting the pilot, through the gap and into breakfast before being ready to disembark at FIPASS floating wharf a 45minute walk from town.

The plan was to catch one of two coaches to Gypsy Cove. Here we were able to walk around the coast line around which we saw Magellanic Penguins, lots of Upland geese, meadowlark, Diddle Dee (a bush), flightless steamer ducks, and other flora and fauna – a beetle.

We walked a long way round in windy conditions, around Gypsy Cove, back along the coast past the narrows, around the end of the Stanley Harbour with several shipwrecks, then back past the ship, some seafood companies, the Seafarers Mission, some vegie gardens, cemetery and into town.

Had a lovely meal at Groovy’s in Stanley. Fish and chips and a shared entree of squid with a green sauce (green herbs and Mayo) the fish is kingclip. – a key export. All delicious. Squid is one of the key exports of the Falklands.

The fellas headed to the brewery (they were bottling so not open for a drink) then into the Victory Pub. Mary and I went and had a look around town, bought some Falkland Coins at the bank for Souvenirs, we checked some shops and supermarket, then headed back to find the fellas. Mary and I had a glass of Falkland Island Scurvy Grass Gin. The pub was full of E Team and ship passengers. A very British style bar.

Mary and I left to wander back via a different path. We wandered along some residential streets, saw the local gardens people out whipper snipping lawns, saw some abandoned and derelict homes, most were pretty well kept. We walked through the cemetery dating back to the 1860’s, lots of seafaring losses, war graves etc. then back to the ship by five.

We watched the departure from Mary and Phil’s cabin and saw the lines hauled in and then a bunch of gulls and a seal were feeding on squid we’d stirred up. The seal seemed to throw the squid against the wharf, maybe to kill it or perhaps seal approach to tenderising?

A lovely sail out of Stanley with the sun on the port balconies. We watched birds, penguins etc for quite a while before heading up to unload gear and join cocktails and canapés prior to…

RECAP/PRECAP

Max – slideshow up to 5 photos per person.

Phototip Epic.

Pano and swap photographer half way.

Vicky and Jonathan

History recap.

Howard

Weather is due to change tonight.

Tomorrow at Carcass Island, Port Patterson which is more sheltered hopefully. Unlikely any activities (for snorkellers and kayakers) but will wait till arrival. Explore Northern part. When onshore – short, medium and long walk. Settlement is a homestead with sheds with hedges to protect from wind. Tiny cemetery.

PM. Saunders is. Fourth largest island, a working sheep station with 6000’sheep. Also a wildlife wonderland. Ship close to beach called the neck with a walk that follows along the hillside. Black browed chicks on nests, Southern Rockhopper penguins. Some dolphins.

Off to dinner. We are all knackered so ate and left for our cabins early.

Another busy day tomorrow and photos to download and sleep to be had.