Awesome Adventures – Antarctica Edition
It’s Antarctica season!
I don’t know that we’ll ever fully comprehend that we’ve made it to Antarctica. When we see or hear something about someone’s journey to that mysterious continent, we still find ourselves picking our jaws up off the ground and reminding ourselves that we, too, have made the trek.
As is the case with many travel fanatics, we knew early on that we wanted to make it to all seven continents. Until a couple of years ago – when we started to really remodel our world – neither of us would have believed that we’d actually make it to Antarctica before retirement.
1 part world exploration.
We found that, for us, the trek to Antarctica is all about the feeling it brings up – the feeling that you are on a true adventure. The days spent crossing the often brutal Drake Passage make it easy to feel as though you are an early explorer discovering new territory; there’s a lot of anticipation all up on that boat!
So, when we talk about our adventure to this windy, cold and dry continent, we can never forget the feeling of being on that listing ship, wondering what we were about to uncover. The days crossing that unforgiving and expansive passage between the tip of South America (Cape Horn) and the first signs of Antarctica left a lot of time for that kid-at-Christmas feeling to take center stage. By the time we were set to arrive in Southern Ocean waters we were wound up like spinning tops.
1 part life examination.
Whats more, on this journey, we were also making big “what’s next’ decisions regarding our return to Seattle. Intense, huh? From the journal:
I think it is fitting that we are culminating this multi-month journey with such a grand (literally and metaphorically) finale. Making it to Antarctica is not only the 7th continent to be checked off of the list but also the closing of a huge chapter in our lives. We have spent a lot of time discovering new things, learning about one another, seeing different countries and exploring different cultures. Tomorrow, we reach Antarctica and a huge milestone in our travel goals. More importantly, we have reached a huge milestone in our life goals. We are truly ready for the next chapter which, I think, will be less about discovery and more about putting to good use all the knowledge we have amassed up to this point.
1 part unhinged excitement.
The restless night before our arrival ranks as one of the most thrilling in the NVR guys’ history. More from the journal:
A special entry for a very special day. Today we woke up in the early, early morning (did we even sleep?) to the jarring of the ship as we continued to navigate our way across the last bits of Drake Passage. We got up not much later and ran up to the top deck to see the first signs of Antarctica awaiting us. Although, technically, we are just at the tail end of the Shetland Islands, we were trying to wrap our minds around what we were about to see. Up on the blistering cold deck, we were greeted by icebergs appearing in the distance. ICEBERGS!
Equals Antarctica.
We made the decision to take a scenic cruise rather than a zodiac/land cruise. In the end, we were more than happy with the decision. We spent four days cruising all around the region. We spent as much time as our bodies could bear out on the deck, enjoying this desert continent, about 95% of which is covered by ice. The tundra vegetation and fauna were a marvel. Another highlight was the experts onboard, filling our brains with answers to all of the questions we had about what we were seeing. Antarctica based field researchers even came on board for live-chat about their work and experiences. Incredible. More from the journal:
It’s absolutely crazy that we are here and that we are seeing this magnificence. Penguins are everywhere. Albatrosses surround us as they use the ship as a shield from the wind. It’s all so perspective altering. Our seventh continent – a bookend, a transition and the preface to a new chapter. What a bucket-load of mind jumbling stuff this entire journey represents.
The impact of Antarctica.
As you can tell, the best part about Antartica, for us, wasn’t merely seeing the white continent, but, rather, what the continent inspired and changed within us. Being embedded in that kind of nature for a few days was the ultimate lubrication for our brains’ idea factories. More from the journal
Pinch me (better yet, punch me). We just experienced Antarctica for several days and now have the pleasure of spending more time enjoying the sights of Patagonic Chile and Argentina. Last evening we sailed the Beagle Channel. We cannot believe the magnitude of this part of the world. We feel so lucky to be able to enjoy it all from the comfort of this ship (which, happily, keeps us from our ususal mode of getting too adventurous and too ambitious). We can simply “be” without a ton of pressure – without a lot of conflicting distractions. Not a bad state to be in as we prepare for our return
Our time visiting Antarctica was the perfect preamble to our return to Seattle, and the complete rejiggering of our lives. We’ll always remember this expedition for providing the perfect awe-inspiring setting for prompting equally as wonderful change.
Have you been to Antarctica or is it on your travel dream list?
1. Yes it’s on my dream list.
2. Didn’t know you guys went there
3. Love the incorporation of the journal to your posts, it adds nice color and realism
4. Great perspective on this destination.
5. I want to come over and hug you
1. As it should be.
2. We are full of shocking secrets.
3. Thanks. We were trying something new there. Seemed silly to try to recapture the feeling when we had already done it.
4. Thanks.
5. Hugs gladly accepted.
I can def identify with you guys in this post! It was soo surreal being able to go on this trip!
There’s been a lot of Antarctica buzz in the blog-o-sphere lately. Perhaps its a sing telling us to finally go for it!
Go for it!
Antarctica is my dream destination too, together with the Easter Islands.It’ll be a physical and a mystical journeyto be undertaken when the time is right.
What a great post! Thanks for sharing. I’m looking forward to hear about what you guys do next, the next chapter.
Have been twice for work. Two summer seasons. Great adventure!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pilotbowman/2381325790/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pilotbowman/2380484309/
What kind of interesting work do you do that you get to travel to Antarctica? Research? Great picks, BTW. Thanks for sharing.
I love your new monthly series! What an amazing adventure this was for you guys. Sharing your journal entries from when you were there is a great idea too. I’ve only been to 5 continents so far, so I’ve got some catching up to do
Get to it, Michael! Jeez!
i LOVE how you’ve written this- personal reflection, informative, lush language- so beautiful. i must confess that no- as adventurous as i am, antarctica hasn’t been on my wish list. it’s only been recently that my curiosity has been piqued. and i think this post will go a long way toward adding to it
It wasn’t on our list for a long time. But once we decided that we wanted to hit all seven continents, the completists in us couldn’t leave it off the list. It turns out to be one of those “WTF, can-you-believe-this-is-happening-in-a-good-way” moments.
Thanks for the nice compliments.
A big adventure and I’m so jealous reading this. Just has to be top of everyone’s list. Keep blogging it.
Wow, I had no clue y’all had gone to Antartica now I am really jealous of everything y’all do. I love how y’all wrote this post with the personal journal entries (made it more personal). I will one day make it down their & when I do I am sure I will be too excited to function.
Well put Jaime. We were almost too excited to function.
Now, step away from the new MacBook Pro, stop reading blog posts and go get yer shit done! You leave in just few weeks!
Beautifully encorporated journal entries. You convey the awe and excitement perfectly!
Thanks for the nice compliment Robin. And from one of our favorite writers on the interwebs none-the-less.
Jealous I am. Very jealous. Didn’t have the time and money to do this when I was down there in 2009, but…. WILL do it in the future!
Very cool! I’m soooo jealous! Would love to get to Antarctica, but don’t have any plans to do so anytime soon.
I would love to make it to the Antartica one day, its a bit harder to reach then other destinations but it should be more then worth it!
Loved this! Loved the added journal entries.
I too, am very jealous. Made it to Patagonia, Chile in 2008 but couldn’t swing the time or money to get to Antartica. But one day!
Thanks Anita. Damn, you were so close. I suppose it isn’t the worst thing in the world to still have on your list, right?
Honestly – from a cost perspective – it wasn’t terribly expensive. We can share the boring details when we connect in Seattle.
Love this post, guys! You had me feeling some of that “unhinged excitement” just reading about your adventure. Those photos are pretty awesome, too. So great that you were able to take this incredible journey — hope I can do the same sometime.
Excellent post and good use of the journal entries. Sometimes even more than the actual place or beauty, it’s about accomplishing goals and learning from the process…and by the way, I would love to visit Antarctica sometime in the future.
That’s so cool that you guys made it to Antarctica! It’s not high on my list (mainly because of my budget at the moment) but I think it would be a one of a kind experience.
I love how you said, “We are truly ready for the next chapter which, I think, will be less about discovery and more about putting to good use all the knowledge we have amassed up to this point.”
I agree there comes a point in our lives when we have accumulated enough knowledge. I feel like I could be a student forever, but lately I’m realizing I have so much to give back to others in the form of knowledge that I have gained over the years. I’m not saying I know it all, but it feels good to put that knowledge to use.
At that point, I think we were a little scared to forge ahead. We had to sort of force ourselves to trust that we had done a lot of the heavy lifting and needed to put it to good use. I guess at times it feels easier to remain in “information intake” mode. We needed to bust ahead and take some chances.
Antarctica seems to be the hot topic destination over the last few months. Have to say, though, your post is the first one that made me go, wow, I really want to go there. Sounds incredible!
Well, we’re currently in the season when everyone is heading that way. Actually, pretty much the ONLY season when you can head that way.
WOW, what a great post! I love the use of your journal interspersed throughout. Antarctica is definitely on our list, and reading this post just inspired me to make it happen sooner rather than later. Making it to a magical place like Antarctica has to be amazing. Great post!
great post as usual guys! i love the word: unhinged.
cool that the experts were on board. i reckon i would have annoyed the crap out of them with questions as well!
definitely on the list, if only for the incredible colours.
interested to see where this knowledge gets put to use as well!
Antarctica is on my list. Your diary excerpts are so great at capturing the feeling of the moment. Of being there and experiencing Antarctica for the first time. I’m looking forward to feel that too.
i really wish i could go there. i have added it to my bucket list
Yes, it’s on our list. Yes, we will make it down there. Yes, I want to do the cruise. Yes, I didn’t know you guys had been. Yes, I think I’m in love with you. Yes, we should be best friends. Yes, Icebergs. Yes, penguins. Yes, Yes, Yes.
We’ll have what she’s having…
Wow, what an experience. No wonder it transformed your lives. It’s on my list of course.
You may think I’m crazy but I’m possibly the only person who doesn’t want to go to Antarctica. I thought it was because of the cold but I’d love to go to Alaska or the Yukon.
Love the inclusion of the journal entries. What an incredible journey. I so want to go to Antarctica
Really nice to read your post; though its not so high on my travel list, yet there was something about the post that I completely connected to…
And I agree, its just not visiting the place and enjoying it, but the changes it brings within us which we remember the most…
Thanks for the comment! Yes, we tend to talk more about the change travel inspires than the destinations themselves.
Antartica is definitely on my To Do list (in fact my 200 things to Do in Chile list).
Where did the ship leave from?
How long did it take?
Did you have to book well in advance?
Did images of the Titanic flash across your mind when you saw the icebergs?
Hi, Rob – The ship was RT out of Buenos Aires and was a 2-1/2 week journey (booked a couple of months in advance). I don’t think images of the Titanic entered our minds – good thing!
Beautiful post. I love how you interspersed your journal entries into the article to bring us into exactly how you were feeling while being in the Antarctica. We’re looking forward to going one day soon. Good luck with your next journey whatever it may be .
Thanks, Dave and Deb (and get to Antarctica!).
This trip is out of this world! Antarctica is on my list but I’m scared of the cold =p I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is it true that trips to this place are pretty pricey?
Cheers to achieving one of your travel goals!
It can be a costly adventure, depending on how you go, etc. We lucked out and got a 2 for 1 cruise fare. Can’t remember exactly what we paid.
Your excitement really comes through in this post. Sounds like a life changing adventure. I’ve never really given the Antarctica a lot of thought, except when I see beautiful photos from that part of the world. I’m rethinking than now
Wow, that looks amazing. I can’t imagine how cold it must have been! But on the other hand, I bet Seattle winter was nothing after coming back from Antarctica!
So jealous
What sucks for me is I joined my ship a month *after* they did the Antartica run! Next year, large ships won’t even be allowed down there anymore (because of the environmental damage) so going to Antartica is going to be even more expensive. So, good for you!
I’m glad I came and read this one, even if I am a year and a half late. I went to Antarctica in 2009 with a friend, and we both agreed it was one of the most amazing trips ever. It’s that feeling you described, like you’re really going into the unknown and exploring. That first day we got down there, when the noise of the ship slowing down woke us up, we jumped out of bed to look out the window, like you said, like kids on Christmas. We did the type with the zodiac landings and got to go on land twice, which was really great but short. I’m always happy to hear about others who have made this awesome journey!