Before sunrise we depart Ushuaia and begin the trip north. From Ushuaia we once again pass Cape Horn (Isla Hornos), this time along the northern side of the island. High above an albatross is looking for breakfast. These magnificent birds are the world's largest seabirds and have an eleven-foot wingspan. This enables then to soar thousands of miles, crossing oceans without stopping!
From the bow of the ship we can see the island's lighthouse which sits 250 feet above the shoreline.
The telephoto lens brings the lighthouse keeper's home into view. The keeper has a two-year contract and lives on the island with his wife and two children. A helicopter delivers food, medicine, and other supplies monthly. Records indicate that the highest wind recorded here reached 160 MPH.
West of the keeper's home is the Albatross Memorial honoring the more than 10,000 seamen who have perished “rounding the horn.” The sculpture was designed by Chilean sculptor José Balcells Eyquem in 1992 and depicts an albatross in flight—the seafaring symbol for souls lost at sea.
A few minutes later we pass the west end of Isla Hornos. This signals we are leaving "the end of the world" and entering the Pacific Ocean, our home for the next 3,000 miles of our adventure.
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