Page 41 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

most southerly and 410 miles south of the South Island. The east

coast of the island is deeply indented with fjord-like bays and
inlets, the longest one our destination at Perseverance Harbor.

This fjord is like a crooked finger: when the boat enters the
passage, it is not possible to see the harbor itself. The west coast

is predominantly formed of high and steep granite cliffs where
many seabirds nest. The island is comprised of 27,844 acres. The
island sits atop a shield volcano, or perhaps is more accurately

labeled a shield volcano.

Campbell Island is usually characterized as cool, cloudy, wet and
windy. The island basks under bright sunny skies for only 650

hours a year! For 215 (59%) days of the year, there is less than a
single hour of sunshine! There are 4.76 feet of rain every year

and moisture finds the island at least 325 days a year. The island is
often raked with wind gusts of 50 knots, so often those winds
occur at least 100 days out of every year. Variations in daily and

annual temperatures are small and the mean average temps
move between 40F to 52F. It was a chilly 46F degrees when we

offloaded onto the Zodiacs; it did warm up a bit as the day went
on however.

With statistics whirling around in our anxious minds and mixed

with the warnings staff were giving us that many times it is
impossible to make a landing on Campbell because of the
weather, we all stood alert and apprehensive as the Clipper

Odyssey made its way through the long fjord up to the beautiful
harbor. The scenery was wild and magnificent with huge cliffs

decorated with columnar basalt and madly slashing tussock
grasses. What a magnanimous gift Mother Nature bestowed on

us. We easily clambered aboard the Zodiacs to speed to shore
over a calm sea with bright blue sunshine showering down on the

island and on us, its grateful visitors.
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