Pop Pop in Wonderland

It's getting exciting! Only six more days until we start our trip. Pop Pop has started a new book to read on the trip, Alice in Wonderland. The book is full of wonderous imaginations and adventures. I think our trip will be just like the book, with things we can't even imagine.

For example, we think of ice as clear, white, or blue. But we've been told that in Antarctica, ice comes in all colors and designs. Cool! We'll see if that is true, or just a Wonderland story.

Getting ready

Only one more week before we fly to Santiago. Yeah! DeDe is already organized for packing - Pop Pop isn't quite there yet.

Surprise of all surprises though - it's likely colder here than it will be in Antarctica when we get there. They do have minus 100 degrees in the winter, but it is now their summer, and we expect temperatures near 30 degrees (F).

This morning, I had to boil two pitchers of water to unfreeze the water to the mini-ponies' watering trough. When I came in, my fingers were really cold. I think the temperature was near 15 (F).

Southern hemisphere, here we come.

Waterproof boots

Last night we met a couple who had been to Antarctica about ten years ago. They said we'll love the trip. Then they said,"It's real important to have the high boots." I said, "I know, we'll be getting off into ice-cold water."

"Oh, no ... the boots are for the penguins!" Oops. Apparently, you can hear and smell the penguins before you can see them, if you are coming around an iceberg. So ... the boots are not just for the water, they are for getting through penguin poop.

Word of the day: catabatic

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. In addition to global wind movements, Antarctica makes it's own wind. Some of the glaciers are nearly 7,000 feet deep (and high)! As cold air slides down from the glacial plateaus, there can be violent (hurricane force) and unexpected winds. These strong movements of cold air down slopes are called catabatic (or katabatic)winds.

Humpback whale

Yeah! Here's a sketch of a humpback whale. We're working with a new browser (whatever that is). Getting close to these largest of mammals is spectacular.