December 23, 2021 – So. Georgia Island

My group, Adelie penguins, was the first to go ashore at 9:15am. We landed at Gold Harbour which is a sandy beach area. As the zodiak approached the beach, I could see thousands of King penguins up and down the beach. After exiting the zodiak, I realized that there was a large group of adolescent elephant seals too.
Because of the amount of wildlife it was decided that half of our group would go to the beach for an hour while the other half would do a zodiak tour around the bay. After one hour we would switch.
I have never seen so many penguins in one area. It was fantastic. When a penguin is born he is covered in feathers. Until each molts his feathers they can’t go in the water. Interspersed with the penguins were groups of elephant seals and fur seals. I guess during breeding season they aren’t the mortal enemies that they are the rest of the year.
Back on the ship we had lunch while the ship moved St. Andrew’s Point. The beachfront was like at Gold Harbour with thousands of king penguins and many seal groups. Also on the beach was a woman dressed like a penguin. Despite our weight restrictions on luggage, she brought this outfit with her.
There is a Glacier a mile from shore that many walked to. I got about half way there but my knee started hurting so I headed back. I should have taken my trekking poles on shore this afternoon.
They told us there are over 400,000 pairs of King penguins on South Georgia Island. I believe that just today I saw most of them.
I have been eating with the same group every night at dinner. There are 6 of us, Cristen and her mom, Cheri from Kansas City, Marguerite from Fort Meyer, Florida, and Julie and Daniel from Gearhart, Oregon. We have a really good time together.