Day 21…Cruise to South America…Whoa!…Videos of rough seas as we approach the Strait of Magellan!

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This morning’s video of the water splashing out of the pool
during the rough seas as we approach the Strait of Magellan.


 “Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

This is just the beginning of what is yet to come as we approach Cape Horn in the next few days. one of the windiest spots on the planet.
We traded photo-taking with another couple while on the deck last night around 9:00 pm. 

Whew! What a start to the day! Around 5:00 am this morning, while awake as usual, I felt the familiar rolling of rough seas. As soon as it became light, I opened the drapes to find some rough seas.

It was a “smart casual” night so we didn’t have to figure out what to wear for a dressy night. 

Tom was still sleeping and I didn’t awaken him knowing he needed every moment of sleep as he’s quickly recovering from his six-day cold, now almost completely gone.

Snow-capped mountain.

How I didn’t catch the cold baffles me but I won’t “look a gift horse in the mouth.” I’ll take whatever good health comes our way as we continue on our journey.

Most often, it is foggy and cloudy when sailing through the Chilean Fiords.  We were fortunate to see some blue skies.

On at least half of our 21 prior cruises, I’ve fallen prey to the “cruise cough,” a sore throat, and cold or flu. I’m hoping that with all the care I’ve taken these past few years with the gastrointestinal illness that perhaps my immune system has recovered and I’ll be less prone to coughs, colds, and flu. My fingers stay crossed for this one.

The scenery is breathtaking through the fiords.

This morning, after taking the two above videos, we’re comfortably situated in Cafe al Bacio with cruise-mate Don, with whom we’ve shared many delightful conversations over these many past mornings while I busily prepared the day’s post, all the while listening to the conversations between Tom and Don.

Snow-capped mountains in the Chilean Fiords.

The ship captain continues to keep us informed as to the development of the storm we’re currently experiencing. However, we have no doubt the seas will worsen over the next several days.  With our past cruising experience, we aren’t intimidated by rough seas.

We took this photo last night, close to 10:00 pm.

Instead, we’re fascinated with where we’ve been these past many days and anticipating what is yet to come over the remaining 10 days until the cruise ends. This has been a fantastic cruise thus far.

There wasn’t much vegetation on the islands in the cold-weather climate.

For a bit of information about the Chilean Fiords where we’ve been sailing over these last many days:

“Fjords and channels of Chile

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The southern coast of Chile presents a large number of fjords and fjord-like channels from the latitudes of Cape Horn (55° S) to Reloncaví Estuary (42° S). Some fjords and channels are critical navigable channels providing access to ports like Punta Arenas, Puerto Chacabuco, and Puerto Natales.

History

During colonial times, the fjords and channels of Patagonia were first explored by the Spaniards. There were many motivations for their explorations, including a desire to Christianize indigenous peoples, prevent intrusions of any foreign power into territory claimed by Spain, increase geographic knowledge of the zone, and finally, to search for a mythical city called the City of the Caesars. In 1792, the viceroy of Peru ordered the exploration of the Patagonian channels to find an entrance to the interior of Patagonia. The said order was carried off by José de Moraleda who led an expedition that visited many of the main channels of the zone. In the early to mid 19th century, explorations by hydrographers like Robert FitzRoy and Francisco Hudson increased knowledge on the channels. The channels south of the Isthmus of Ofqui were explored in detail by Chilean government agent Hans Steffen in the late 19th century.

Climate and geography

This route is mostly used by vessels desiring to avoid the heavy seas and bad weather so often experienced on passing into the Pacific Ocean from the western end of the Strait of Magellan. The large full-powered mail steamers generally at once gain the open sea at Cape Pillar (at the west entrance of the Strait of Magellan), as experience has shown that time is thus saved to them. Still, vessels of less engine power, to which punctuality and dispatch is not so much an object as avoiding possible danger, will find the Patagonian Channels the best route.
The general features of these channels are high, abrupt shores, with numerous peaks and headlands remarkably alike in character, their bold, rugged heads giving an appearance of gloomy grandeur rarely seen elsewhere. The shores are generally steep-to and the channels, for the most part, open and free, while the few dangers that exist are usually marked by kelp. The tides are regular and not strong, except in the English Narrows.
In the case of the two above mentioned and some other fjords, these waterways proved of value as transport lanes when western Patagonia was settled and incorporated into Chile. On the other hand, the fjords have served as a natural barrier preventing north-south land travel in Chilean Patagonia.”
Overview of Channels in South Chile: North to right and South to left side
Map of the Chilean Fiords.

By 2:00 pm, less than three hours from now, we’ll be entering the Magellan Strait (aka, the Magellan Straits or the Straits of Magellan).  In tomorrow’s post, we’ll be posting information, videos, and photos of this majestic part of the world.

The rough seas didn’t start until the middle of the night. 

Please stay tuned for more as we make our way through this stormy part of the world filled with excitement and adventure on this fascinating journey to the southern end of South America.

A ferry was moving through the Chilean Straits.

Have a great day, dear readers!

Photo from one year ago today, December 13, 2016:

Gerard and his High on Penguin holiday home in Penguin, Tasmania, overlooking the town and the sea.  For more details on this rock and roll memorabilia-themed property, please click here.