On a two day cruise to Uruaguay from the Falkland Islands (1050 miles) . It is nice to have a quiet day sailing to rest. Yesterday was so fun filled, but tiring. When we sailed into Port Stanley all you could see were bare rocky land. We had to tether this port, meaning we took a boat from the ship to Stanley. It was about a 20 minute ride. As we rounded a curve, suddenly the town came into view. Buildings were 80% all white, with red, blue, green and some yellow roofs. It is very English since it is called an English Territory. Several Pubs, and fish & chip restaurants and bakeries. The islands were found in 1690 with no inhabinents. As years went by, it was a favorite place for whalers and other ships to pull into to make repairs. No trees - what ones there are now, were brought from England. In 1849 was when a group of maried military pensioners were sent by Britian to settle the islands. The 2200 populations does not have to pay taxes, the majority work for the government, educatand if you want to continue on for college the government sends you to England for school. With one condition, that if you do not complete and graduate, you have to pay the government back for everything they have spent on you. They love it here - no crime, because everyone literally knows you and it is so peaceful and they are very proud of their little paridise. I took a tour to Bluff Cove Lagoon, almost on the other side of island from Stanley. We had a delightful lady named Stella who drove us in a 17 person van out of the city to the waiting 4 X 4s waiting for us at the Farms entrance. This took about 45 minutes, starting out on 4 miles of paved and the rest on a dirt gravel road. Stella was very informative about her island and we all came away with a wonderful view of her life. We met Michael, our Range Rover driver at the farm entrance. He is 29, married with two kids living on his father & mothers farm and soon because of health reasons will be in charge of it. The raise sheep for wool (Perendale Sheep about 4,000) and also Belted Galloway cattle (150).. This is the cow you sometime see up by Napa which has a black end, white around the stomach and thenblack front. Michael was also forth coming about his life on the island. He returned from England about three years ago to help his parents. He has no intentions of leaving the island, its a wonderful place to raise his kids and he is a 6th generation Falklander. Its deep in his blood. He also loves beer and has started a microbrewery...there is one other one on the island. He has great plans. The ride in his Range Rover was so much fun, but I think every bone in my body has shifted a bit. Bouncing up and down over the dips and dales of peat was very awaking. You could tell Michael loved it too. He had a wonderful British humor and accent too. He took us to the farm and then on to Bluff Cove Lagoon which is on the property of the farm. Here is where you find the penguin rookery. Picture in your mind the Atlantic Ocean, a small beach, a small hill of rocks , 300 feet of sand and then a 500 foot circle of mostly baby penquins. Sleeping, running around, making lots of noise. They were so adorable. You cannt touch them and must remain 5 feet away from them at all times, unless the walk up to you. On this hillside there was four other smaller rookerys. There were 14 King Penquins. Next to the Emperor peguins (only found in Antaractica) the Kings are the tallest, about 40 tall. They weight about 30 lbs and live 30 years as long as they stay away from, seals the the Orca whales. A baby King had been hatched that morning and they all stayed around it to protect it. They really are elegant. Their chicks are covered with a brown down. The rest of the penquins (100s) were Gento Penguins. Smaller, 30, live 8 years and weigh only 12 lbs. Their little chicks are covered in a gray down. I had one little guy who came running over to me, pass the white flags that mark their private area, look up at me and really size me up....through his wings up run away. It was very endaearing. I had a movie camera going on my head during time I was visiting the rookery. I hope the pictures come out. I witnessed a parent come from the ocean, over the rocks and running in the sand yelling at the top of his lungs. Then I heard a baby answering back and running as fast as he or she could from the back of the rookery..running towards each other, meeting still crying out, hit each other with their beaks and then the parent began feeding it. It was so amazing to see how the penguins acted among them selves, their affection for each other and how funy they can be too. This memory will always be treasured by me.. After we walked to a small building and visited a museum for the farm, plus free hot chocolate or tea and cookies and pies by the the ladies of the area......all free. My adventure in the Range Rover going back was just as fun. Got back to Stanley with enough time to visit some of their shops, the Catheral and a monument made out of two huge jaw bones. What a day....what a memory, Ann
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 19:10:16 +0000
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