Reaching Cape Horn, Success or Failure

When we travel, we're looking for a mild sense of adventure. We have found that when we have a guide, there isn't the same sense. They tell us what we're going to see, when we'll see it, and the guiding hand takes most of the uncertainty and adventure out of the experience. The fun and adventure seems to just drain away.

One of the best examples of the loss of adventure was when we had planned to go to the Moai quarry on Easter Island. We researched the route, distance, prevailing winds and topography to determine whether it was bikeable, and we believed it was, though challenging.  As a result, we were looking forward to the prospect. But when we first arrived on the Island, we got an unsolicited offer by a guide to take us there by car. Even though we would see the same thing and maybe more given his knowledge, the appeal wasn't there for us. Initially, we didn't know why, but after some thought, we realized that his offer didn't include any adventure.

Now, while on board the Stella Australis, we felt the sense of adventure we were looking for. The passageways were narrow, the shoreline rugged, and the winds caused rough seas. Unfortunately, the guided shore excursions in leeward coves lacked the same sense, but we moved on toward Cape Horn.

We arrived at the Cape in early morning seeking lower winds and quieter seas than those expected by mid day. Even though the winds were below 70 kmh, which was the maximum criterion to make an attempt to land on the Island, the scouting crew still failed.

The wind was blowing directly into the only landing location causing the water to be too choppy. The ship was moved closer to shore and upwind of the landing area to provide a windbreak, but the winds and waves continued to build. The scouting crew made a second attempt, but it failed as well leading to the decision to abandon the goal of landing at Cape Horn.

In the end, people were strongly divided, some felt we had failed to get to Cape Horn, and were extremely disappointed. While others felt we had made it to the Cape. We had failed to land but succeeded in  having the adventure of attempting two landing under adverse weather and sea conditions.

Click here for the next story in this series:
http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2013/11/postscript-other-thoughts-and-trip.html