Stanley, Falkland Islands
To the west the full moon was setting and to the east the sun was rising this morning as the National Geographic Explorer lifted anchor and departed Berkeley Sound on our way into the town of Stanley on East Falkland Island. The excitement was palpable for all of us on board as we had not set foot on shore since leaving South Georgia. We were all looking forward to stretching our legs a bit and the beautiful light cast by the moon and sun promised a fine day of adventure ahead.
Our morning activities centered on a hike along the shores of Yorke Bay in Gypsy Cove to see Magellanic penguins in their nesting burrows along the shoreline. It is late in the penguin season here in the Falklands and most chicks are ready to fledge. Many adults in the colony are going through the onerous task of molting old feathers for a complete set of new ones. The wind made whimsical patterns in the tussock grass as we hiked out to the furthest point guarded by a World War II era Vicker’s gun and providing a look back into the harbor and the town of Stanley.
The afternoon brought time for getting to know Stanley itself. While some toured the hydroponic gardens at Stanley Growers, others ventured into town for a taste of this unique British outpost. Muddy Land Rovers driving down the “wrong” side of the street kept everyone alert as we walked the streets of town, stopping here and there to chat with locals, or perhaps to do a little shopping for friends and family back home. The afternoon passed by at a pleasant pace as Stanley offered our first real look at civilization since we left Ushuaia almost three weeks ago!
