The view as we approached Grytviken, our first port of call on South Georgia. Here is the only settlement on South Georgia. All visiting ships to South Georgia must get cleared here first. Here we went through extensive decontamination of any outer clothing or gear that may touch soil on the island to prevent any invasive species from being introduced. Pockets were vacuumed, stains removed, boots thoroughly washed and all Velcro brushed for stray seeds. This was a procedure we were to follow every time we disembarked or boarded the ship to keep the environment as pristine as possible.

Fur seals, South Georgia

A Cape Petral flying by the ship.

Grytviken Harbor, South Georgia

Linda undergoing a biosecurity check prior to disembarking for South Georgia. All visitors clothing and outer gear is checked for any foreign seeds or materials which may become an invasive species on the island.

Dale on the zodiac inbound to Grytviken, South Georgia

Linda on the zodiac, Scotty at the helm. Grytviken

Linda on the zodiac inbound for Grytviken, South Georgia

Grytviken was a prosperous whaling station for nearly 60 years. It finally shut down operations in 1963 when whaling was no longer economically feasable due to the virtual extinction of the whale. Almost 54,000 whales were processed during those 6 decades and during it's most productive year 27,000 barrels of oil were extracted. Now very little of the town is left and only the skeleton of the oil works remain.

An abandoned whaling ship with one of the local inhabitants, a fur seal striking a pose.

Elephant seal, Grytviken

Arctic Tern, South Georgia

Juvenile arctic tern, South Georgia

A group of elephant seals huddling together to keep warm. Luckily for us, these behemoths were not interested in us. They were molting and more interested in staying warm and conserving energy. Young ones like this tip the scales at 2,000 to 3,000 lbs. Full grown adults can easily weigh in at over 8,000 lbs.

A Geento Penguin and teen age fur seals shared the shore with a myriad of other birds and sea mammals.

Gentoo Penguin posing for the visitors

On shore the wildlife has only a few predators’, mainly birds who prey on the eggs, chicks and other small newborn mammals. Here a skua is being run off from a nest by a Geento penguin.

Ernest Shackelton's grave site and memorial, Grytviken, South Georgia

The ruins of a whale oil factory, Grytviken, South Georgia

Fur seals resting by a pond, Grytviken

Linda doing her best to avoid a fur seal. For the most part fur seals were usually fairly benign, yet on occasion they would give a few snorts and then charge you. You turn into them, make yourself large and make a lot of noise. Luckily, they always backed down. I would hate to think what would happen if they did not. Grytviken was just a “introduction” into what was coming. Soon we would be threading our path within a few feet of those who looked the least dangerous, always watching each other’s back for the random charge, hiking poles, tripods and at times bags held at ready to ward off any who came to close. Remember to show no fear and to look big and aggressive.

Brown Skua, Grytviken

A very rare and endangered duck, the South Georgia Pintail. These birds were on the verge of extinction only a few years ago. With no natural land predators, invasive rats that had come on the whaling ships would feast on the eggs and newly born chicks.

A mother fur seal and her pup.