Exploring the other islands we found that this is a seals paradise. Thousands of Weddel, Crabeater and Antarctic Fur seals
lying on patches of snow and the remainder of last winters pack ice, sunning themselves in the Antarctic summer sun. Occasionally an Antarctic Fur seal in a
playful mood would chase a Gentoo penguin. As we rested on a patch of exposed rock amongst the seals and penguins, we noticed a young fur seal playing in the surf below
us. Then without warning the fur seal jumped out of the water and walked within 2 feet of where we seated ourselves. It must have though that we were other Antarctic
Fur seals as it gave us a greeting that we saw other Fur seals give to each other. The Fur seal stood there for a few minutes nodding its head up and down with a look of bewilderment in its eyes. After awakening on our scheduled day of departure we realized that we had a slight
problem. A well-weathered iceberg about the size of a small house had drifted into our little harbor of refuge. Nearly wedged up against our bow it blocked our exit. Only quick action with the skiff with its 9 horsepower outboard allowed us to leave
that day as the tide was falling and we did not know if following tides would be higher. Once under way and back into Gerlache Strait we experienced a
downwind sleigh ride in 20 knots of wind that increased as we progressed down the strait to 50 knots plus. The increase in wind velocity is due to an venturi effect caused by steep mountains of either
side of us and a narrowing strait. Port Lockroy, a bay that whaling factory ships used extensively in the past and the site of the now abandoned British Antarctic Survey base "Port Lockroy" is our next destination.
Thousands of Weddel, Crabeater and Antarctic Fur seals
lying on patches of snow and the remainder of last winters pack ice, sunning themselves in the Antarctic summer sun. Occasionally an Antarctic Fur seal in a
playful mood would chase a Gentoo penguin. As we rested on a patch of exposed rock amongst the seals and penguins, we noticed a young fur seal playing in the surf below
us. Then without warning the fur seal jumped out of the water and walked within 2 feet of where we seated ourselves. It must have though that we were other Antarctic
Fur seals as it gave us a greeting that we saw other Fur seals give to each other. The Fur seal stood there for a few minutes nodding its head up and down with a look of bewilderment in its eyes. 
against our bow it blocked our exit. Only quick action with the skiff with its 9 horsepower outboard allowed us to leave
that day as the tide was falling and we did not know if following tides would be higher.