Penguins and icebergs fill my Antarctic adventure dreams

Thanks for stopping by again, Wild Duck. Your cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica sounds like quite an adventure.

Hope you'll share more of your travel experience with my readers.

Donna,
Your website and posts are really interesting. I enjoy going over your travels. We were in Charleston last October and really enjoyed the southern charm. The local post master in Charleston took a liking to us and presented us with some commemorative coffee cups and shared a load of Charleston charm with us. In answer to your question, we, I go by the road name and amateur radio "handle" of Wild Duck and my wife goes by "the Piper". So it is Wild Duck and the Piper and we have been traveling for several decades now. We cruised on the Hurtigruten line, formerly Norwegian Coastal Cruise lines. Our ship was the MV FRAM and was commissioned May of '07 and we were on the maiden voyage from the Arctic to the Antarctic and covered four continents, seventeen countries and forty two ports of call in just under ten weeks (Sep - Nov). With over a hundred pages of my journal and over 1300 digital pictures, I am slowly working on some memoirs including kissing the Blarney stone (Cork Ireleand) to swimming in Antarctica. Other adventures of Wild Duck and the Piper include a week in Fiji and two weeks in Australia with some Great Barrier Reef diving just last year. '07 was the biggest year of travel and the year before Wild Duck and the Piper climbed Mt. Fuji and toured Japan. As I mentioned earlier, only one continent left and will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in '09. The Kili climb will not be that great as we will have plenty of support and take four days for the climb. It should surpass Fuji and be the last climb of a lifetime. Donna, I noticed your Utah blogs and that is definitely in the cards for us. We are beginning to "see the USA" in our motor home, Safari Serengeti with a trailer in tow with our little smart car, kayak, fishing gear and Harley. The Piper is a grand champion quilter (Western Washington) and is happy quilting while I thoroughly enjoy fishing. Travel is our common love. Who knows, we may meet someday on the road yet traveled. Hope to share some stories too. Wild Duck ....PS, I will book mark your site and keep enjoying your posts.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Drake (or is it Wild Duck?). Unforunately, I'm only dreaming so no Antarctica plans yet although I'm sure it will happen one of these days.

So, what line did you sail on your Arctic to Antarctica expedition? I would love to hear more about it.

I recently sat next to a gentleman on a plane who had to be rescued from a ship in Antarctica. It was before Explorer II but I don't remember the name of the ship. Boomer brain fade!

Hope you'll stop by again and share some of your baby boomer travels. Where are you going next?

Safe travels,
Donna

Donna (Itchy Feet),
Been there and done that too! Will look forward to your Antarctic postings. Made 5 landings this last November on the world's first (commercial) longitudinal expedition from the Arctic to the Antarctic on a ten week world cruise with five days in Antarctica. Witnessed five species of penguins, none of which danced, in their colonies. Spectacular and life changing experience. Our ship passed the Explorer II four hours before it struck the fatal ice berg on November 23 and 12 hours later it sunk. Our sister ship the NordNord rescued everyone from the icy waters. Speaking of icy waters, have the certificate for swimming in Antarctica and pictures too. Every picture in Antarctica was a "Kodak" moment. Nearly impossible to take a bad picture. Do keep a daily journal of your sojourn. Enjoy. From one boomer to another. Next year will be the seventh continent for me. Wish you well, Wild Duck...