Antarctica, one year later
My travel companions and I look back on our expedition.
On a bright sunny day in December, my travel companions and I met up for a one year reunion. Sushi Hana in Lynnwood provided the venue complete with automated robotic servers and a wonderful selection of sushi and sashimi. We were joined by Jim and Denice.
As we sat navigating our salmon skin hand roll and dragon roll sushi, I asked my travel mates to reflect on our adventure.
Q: Does Antarctica seem like a dream or like it happened just yesterday?
Tyson: Yes! Just yesterday!
Marianne: Yes, it is still a very profound and transformative experience that continues to resonate.
Frances: In some ways, it feels like both a dream, a fairytale; and very real.
Q: Are you glad you did it?
T: Yes, yes! It was a life long dream.
M: Yes, bucket list. Check!
F: Absolutely!
Q: Would you go again?
T: Yes.
M: Yes! IF money were no object.
F: Maybe…
Q: Some highlights of your trip?
T: I spent my time on shore the first day we landed Zodiac boats on Antarctic rock. I wasn’t ready to climb up on the ice and snow so I stayed by the boats. It was very meditative and I got to watch the penguins diving and swimming up close. To slow down and watch and listen instead of go, go, go, it was timeless.
M: Going through the pancake ice, seeing the penguins swimming, getting up close to all the wildlife. All of it. I got to finish reading Godel Escher Bach! And the least favorite was the time someone dropped a piece of plastic wrapper overboard. The expedition leader turned the boat around and hunted for that small piece of plastic until we found and retrieved it. I didn’t think we’d ever find it or it would sink.
F: The day that the sun came out after days of fog and snow. I got to go up in the helicopter a second time and it was spectacular looking out over all those snow and glacier-covered mountains surrounded by pristine waterways. That same day three Minke whales swam around our ship in the clear blue-green water. Amazing!
Q: Did you learn anything new about yourself?
T: I wondered at my age, could I keep up? Yes! I could. I did well.
M: I wondered if I was going to be the odd duck. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. It was a great group of people.
F: I learned once again that if I set a goal for myself and commit to it, I can achieve it. And, it really helps to have travel companions who keep you going when you may want to back out.
Q: Final takeaway?
T: Take time to digest. Slow down. Don’t feel like you have to run a marathon or go all the time. Stop. Listen to the silence. Observe.
M: It was a privilege to experience the wildness of the Antarctic. Who knows what will happen in the future; if tourists will be able to go?
F: Even though we were in excellent hands with a very seasoned and experienced crew, polar expeditions always have an element of danger. One can never be too prepared for emergency situations. Take seriously all the practice drills and safety precautions. Stuff happens.
Thank you, Frances, for bringing it all back. It was a majestic and humbling experience. One year later I still have Antarctica ice shots on my screens—that’s never happened before.