When the random TV screen saver (of my content) transports you straight back to Antarctica, a couple of years after visiting 🙂 The day: Kayaking, a landing and endless evening from Antarctic Mission 2019 - RobiNZ Personal Blog (typepad.com) Read more →
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Clicked on a LinkedIn comment, on a post by a CAD world connection, and thought I recognised an Antarctic location in the profile header photo. A web search soon had me at Margaret Plumley's lovely sketchbook from a trip similar to my 2019 Dr Karl Expedition. Her blogs about trip are here, and the sketchbook... Margaret Plumley - Antarctica 2021 sketchbook - Sketches and paintings from the trip Published on Dec 29, 2021 Read more →
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I was doing some QGIS training, testing, experimenting and the dataset provided was Antarctica. Had to spend a few minutes mapping where I've been! Initial dataset Our Antarctic 2019 Trip Landing Map | Credit Oceanwide Log Landings and activities plotted Location on Antarctic Continent Read more →
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I saw Sam's '3rd Annual Everybody Draws a Penguin Day!' tweet on Sunday afternoon just before was heading out for a bike ride. Sunday evening fired up Sketchbook and made a quick entry based on my favourite photo from the 2019 trip. From Antarctic Mission Log 07 With Ortelius cruising along the Neumayer Channel at about 10-11 knots (~20 km/h) it was amazing to see penguins overtaking us. Gentoo penguin can hit max 36 km/h when sufficiently motivated; chasing, or avoiding being, prey. The water was so still, so clear, I spent ages just watching them doing this. Read more →
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I first saw Hubcap Creatures By Ptolemy in Car Magazine back in 2004 (even blogged about it) & loved them. Ptolemy Elrington crafts discarded/found hubcaps into works of art complete with the scratches and scars of their previous life. I loved them then, to the point of finding out the cost of freight (more than the price) made shipping to NZ unrealistic, but a mention in todays "The Motoring Podcast" had me back at the site again. Thanks to recent travels if I buy the right Lotto ticket would love to give the Penguin a home in New Zealand. Penguin... Read more →
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This is written about a year after I boarded Ortelius. In the lead up to the trip I had heard, read, many people say that something about you changes after experiencing Antarctica. I thought twelve months would be sufficient to process what this trip meant but still can't express it. More than any other travel I've done, this trip changed me. It was a rare combination of places, people, and experiences I will never forget. The staggering beauty and isolation The people: fellow guests, the host, guides, and crew who made it possible Experiencing the locals in their element, all... Read more →
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A few weeks ago, I joined the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust as "Friend of Antarctica". They've been hammered by COVID-19 as much of their income comes from Antarctic tourists visiting Port Lockroy, as I did last year, and of course now they aren't. In addition to the digital content they share with members I just received this neat welcome pack: A magazine, photo book about the base and its history, pencil, stickers, postcard, and metal/enamel badge. Because the international mail timeline between NZ & the U.K. is lengthy, COVID again, I had forgotten they were sending 'something' so it was... Read more →
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I've only been to Argentina, and a few km into Brazil, but this shows how vast Brazil is and why most people don't realise where (in relation to North America and Africa) South America is. Read more →
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I had time to kill until my late afternoon flight. My neighbours at home, and others on yesterday's falls tour, suggested Parque das Aves (Bird Park), a privately owned aviary near the Brazilian Falls park entry, was worth a visit. World Expeditions made it easy as I joined their morning 'Falls Trip', but got off at the gate, which meant the transport and border crossing hassle was sorted. Parque Das Aves Parque Das Aves has four enormous 'immersion aviaries' set in sixteen hectares (40 acres) of jungle. Although I'm not a fan of Zoos this appeared to be very well... Read more →
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After lunch I joined an optional, but if you're there essential, side trip. We boarded an open top truck for a drive through the jungle to the river about 6km downstream from the falls. There was a commentary and they stopped/slowed for significant flora/fauna, like the fellow below, but the most memorable aspect were the flocks (clouds, flights?) of yellow butterflies, too small to see in photos, which fluttered by as we drove along. Off the truck there was a short walk down to the river. With no breeze, sun, and humidity it was hot! The queue is for the... Read more →
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