RobiNZ Personal Blog

Wonderful memories of Antarctica, watching Karl Watson's recent trip

I went to Antarctica thanks to a Karl*, was reminded of so many memories watching Karl Watson's recent (November 2023) trip which went to several of the places we visited at the same time of year (so very similar snow etc). Watching them kayaking at Orne Harbour (ep 2) I still can't really believe have done the same. Nothing gets close to experiencing Antarctica, but this is a brilliant effort at capturing it. * I went with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki in November 2019, our trip was 13 days and we had even better weather! Read more →

Capper Peak, Jenny Island, Antarctica!

I forget how many years ago Harry Capper and I connected, well over a decade and initially on LinkedIn, due to our shared (but no close relation) surname. We've kept in touch, over the years, and I was amazed to get this Facebook Message after he saw an Antarctic post I had shared: Harry's Facebook Messenger Message (shared with permission) Linda Capper and Capper Peak Although I had done lots of research (I thought!) for my 2019 Antarctic trip I didn't know of Linda or her long career with the British Antarctic Survey: Hi Robin, I know how much Antarctica... Read more →

Memories of Antarctica

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 →

A wonderful Antarctic Sketchbook and Blog

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 →

Antarctic memories in QGIS

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 →

Everybody Draws a Penguin Day!

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 →

Ptolemy's Hubcap Penguin

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 →

Memories of... | Antarctic Mission Log 20

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 →

A reminder of Lockie's place

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 →

Why South America's Geography is Way Weirder Than You Think

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 →