Ecosse and Beyond: Falkland Islands Part 4 (still don’t know how many parts) Saunders Island

A chicken feeded in the post which came by plane

Saunders Island

Saunders Island is the one of the biggest islands – it’s almost three, with narrow isthmus (what is the plural?) Saunders is also where the British first settled in the Falklands in 1765 (Port Egmont – not much left there).

When the plane arrived we were met by 8 squaddies with big guns who were “familiarising” themselves with the island.

Having been looked after, foodwise, by the Chileans on Carcase Island, the Saunders experience was to be a little different – self catering. I had to buy when I arrived.

The “shop”

Inside the shop

Finding food in the freezer was a bit like lucky dip – total chaos. And I had to make the decision quickly as we needed to set off for “The neck” and the 10 miles would take an hour.

In addition I got half a dozen eggs (from the chickens) and milk in a water bottle. There was no charge for the milk because the cream had been taken of and it was unpasteurised.

The settlement -

What happened to poor 208?

Stranded jellyfish

The neck

The Neck is the most amazing place for wildlife; a reasonable sized King Penguin colony, magellanic penguins, gentoo penguins, several Rockhopper penguin colonies, King Cormorant colonies and, first time for me, black-browed albatross – and even better albatross, rockhoppers and cormorants all mixed up together. The secret is to wear weather-proof trousers so you can sit in the poo without too many qualms. Also to wear the same clothing when you go out and sit among the birds because they are very smelly and the clothes end up smelly. And change when you get inside.

The neck

My home for 3 nights – note it is wired down at the corners to prevent it from blowing away. Interior comprised of lobby, bathroom, sitting/eating area and 2 x 4 bunk bedrooms, one of which was occupied by me and a lot of beetles, and the other by an American couple.