After I had enough about “me” in the morning, I ended up in the Plasma room. A call by Jumper over the intercom says that there were humpbacks on the starboard side – so we quickly jumped up to see if we could see them. As I am looking outside to try to find them, one of the humpbacks breaches completely right in front of us about 40 yards out. It was close enough that you could see the barnacles all over its body. Another unbelievable moment!!!

Another LOTE session, this time on the rocks in Paradise Bay and was it ever SPECTACULAR!!! After completing it, I did my video interview with Marjan for the website and was in a frame of mind when I really felt the reality of where I am and why I am here in Antarctica!!!!! After the interview, she gave me a little hug and said she really felt what I was saying in her heart. It sure came from mine!

After lunch, it was time for Robert to do part 4 of his story. A conclusion of his amazing life, told in 4 segments. The afternoon was spent on-board the ship with people and watching sights. After dinner, it was time to discuss Part 5, which is “our” story. The work is almost complete by Robert and Nick and the torch is getting ready to be passed to us.

A late night up for me, hanging around and chatting with the “Russians” and Paola from Mexico. Last night in Antarctica – the “feared” Drake Passage crossing tomorrow after dinner…………..

After lunch, we visited Half Moon Island. This place had penguins, most chinstrap penguins and fur seals all over it. It was amazing watching these penguins climb all over the rocks.

When everyone returned from the visit on land, everyone was called to the upper deck of the ship. Jumper had the bell rang 3 times for Antarctica, 3 times for the ship, Ushuaia and 3 times for 2041. Then, we all did hip, hip, hooray 3 times and the Captain blew the ship’s horn 1 long time to signal our official departure from Antarctica. Next, Robert gave a speech thanking each of us for being with him on this expedition. Lastly, Robert said his real message is……..(he stood there for a moment of silence to listen to Antarctica). It was powerful.

After dinner, the group had a slide show about David. He had passionately taken so many pictures of Antarctica and of us that we wanted to show him the pictures we had of him. We owe him a huge THANK YOU, because he saw a lot of Antarctica through a camera lens, instead of truly experiencing it.

We have heard rumors the last 2 days that the Drake Passage crossing is going to be a very rough one. Bring it on; it will be an amazing end to an amazing expedition.

At 8:45 PM, we officially hit the Drake Passage. The rocking began immediately and will only get worse. I think it will be rock-a-bye James soon………………..

After lunch, I went to the bridge to watch, take pictures and videos of the front of the ship crashing into the swell (waves) and the water completely coming over the front of the bow. On the way down to Antarctica, it was nicknamed the Drake Lake. This lake has awoken and we experienced the world’s roughest waters. At this point, the swells were about 3-5 meters high and the wind was blowing consistently between 30 – 40 knots (34 – 46 mph).

The main part of this storm hit just before dinner. Dinner was tough. There were things (chairs, drinks, plates, people, etc.) flying every which way. It made me wonder how the chef could prepare a meal in these conditions. After dinner, I went back to the bridge. I knew the conditions were bad but didn’t realize how bad they were until I looked out from the bridge. At this point, the swells were about 6+ meters high and the winds were blowing consistently between 60-70 knots (69 – 80 mph) with the highest gust recorded (and a picture taken of the wind gauge) of 80 knots (92 mph). Yes, we went through hurricane strength winds all evening and practically through the night.

I will try to explain the most amazing thing on this crossing that happened with such frequency. The winds were from the North so we would go up the swell and back down, like we were attacking each one. We would go up a swell, with the bow of the ship practically pointed straight upward and then the ship would ride the entire swell and then for a second or 2, the ENTIRE ship would be out of the water until the bow of the ship would bury itself in the sea. Next the rest of the ship would hit the water and there would be a loud noise followed by the whole ship just trembling. From the bridge, this was an amazing thing to watch and feel. From anywhere else, you could just feel it and you knew when it was coming.

As many of us were sitting in the lounge after dinner, it was very difficult for people to walk around and when they did, there were times when they would fall into people or even over chairs. Then Robert, in his usual tone, says you folks wanted an adventure, you are getting it. Nick then says it has been great, can we turn it off now and everyone laughed.

Off to bed to sleep out a hurricane…………………….

Here is a little about my dream:

When we completed the Drake Passage crossing (which was extremely smooth for us), we saw our first iceberg. Of course it is one that is big and perfect, all alone and in the middle of nowhere. Next, we go through iceberg alley and the sights are so spectacular; it is like someone placed each of them in the most perfect place. Yet we know that Iceberg Alley is the remains of the Lawson Ice Shelf that disintegrated in a matter of months. As we slowly “moved” the packed ice in front of us, we hear a noise in the distance followed by the sighting of an avalanche on port side. We continue onward and this picturesque scenery keeps going on and on and on.

We are taken to the top of a spectacular ridge and in the middle of Nick’s LOTE (Leadership on the Edge) training, a third of a huge iceberg collapses. The iceberg rocks back and forth, deciding if it is going to tip over or not. The waves rock the ship violently and the waves crash on the other icebergs and finally ashore. It was true Mother Nature and the might she has.

I am on the bow of the ship when a pod of Orca whales cross in front of the bow and broke the surface all in unison like they have been practicing to show us. About an hour later, 2 breaching humpbacks put on a show for us. Later, we went to Paradise Bay. This place was like sitting in front of an artist’s greatest painting and it was right in front of us in EVERY direction.

There are so many incredible things we witnessed that it would take days to write about. However, we are about the start the departure of Antarctica towards Argentina. My dream ends knowing the saying that nothing in life is perfect! In my dream I have found one place I would say is the perfect place and it must be kept perfect!

However, if this is not a dream, then I have just found perfection and we ALL have a part to keep it that way.……………..

We then had a landing and climbed the top of a hill and set up a classroom, which Nick held another LOTE (Leadership on the Edge) session. Right in the middle of the lesson, as if it was planned, half of an iceberg collapses and falls into the sea. The size of this iceberg was huge!!! The iceberg rocks back and forth, deciding if it is going to tip over or not. We watch as the waves produced from this rock the boat so violently. That might be the most spectacular event I have witnessed besides the birth of my children. I could go on using so many adjectives to describe it and it will be a scene I will take to my grave.

At dinner, we arrive in Dorian Bay and get set to go camping. The teams are set and off we go. We hike up the hill and move into the area we are going to set up camp. Areas are scraped, tents are set up and everything was set up before dark. An area is set where everyone gathers and starts talking, telling stories. Peter arrives with a guitar, he is standing up playing one song after another and a small group standing beside him singing. His hands start to get too cold to play and hand warmers are passed around to keep everyone’s hands warm. Peter then went and sat inside his tent and played, while several of us stood outside singing the songs. At this point, it was definitely an early bird crowd and most people went into their tents and headlamps were turned out earlier than I expected.

Off to sleep, camping on a glacier in Antarctica…………..

So the GPS readings were given to Alan Brill to calculate. The calculations showed that the last ball I hit traveled 297 yards with no roll or bounce (GPS error is ±32 feet).

So with this experience, I had an incredible high and an incredible low. I full-filled my goal of hitting golf balls in Antarctica (although I wanted 300 yards I am happy with 297). Unfortunately, we could not find the 2nd one I hit and I definitely didn’t feel good about it.

We leave Dorian Bay and while standing outside and looking at the amazing sights of Lemaire Channel, I turn to see a huge splash. Immediately, the call over the intercom is Humpback whales breaching. The ship immediately slows and 2 whales put on a show for us. At one time, they both breached at the same time side-by-side. Whales breaching, an unbelievable and impossible thing for me to describe and put down in words what we saw. They were like the Energizer bunny, they kept doing it and doing it and doing it. One of the most amazing things I have ever seen – absolutely priceless!!!!

Another call about Humpback whales, get onto the deck!!! Oh, it’s just another pair playing around, flapping their flippers and showing their tails. Now am I spoiled as they are just flapping around and not breaching and I am disappointed.

The afternoon was spent cruising in the Zodiacs around the glacial icebergs in the channel and keeping eyes peeled for more whales, seals and penguins. We saw seals and Gentoo penguins but sadly there were no close encounters with whales. After spending more than hour in the Zodiacs in sub zero temperatures, we returned to the ship for an early dinner and preparations for the camping teams.

I told Robert I wanted to go on land when the camping team went to try to find the ball. I had 2 other volunteers, Alan (Akzo Nobel) and Howard and we became known as the golf ball extraction team #2, since the team (#1) this morning couldn’t find it. We landed with the camping team and the 3 of us set off to search for the lost ball. We had about an hour to search. After searching the rock area, Howard and I start walking about 3 to 4 feet apart along the snow/ice about 50 yards each pass. We work our way up the hill continuing to do this. After about 20 passes, and each pass getting more hopeless, I saw a hint of yellow buried in the snow. A kick with the boat and there it was. What a moment!!! The golf ball extraction team #2, yelled and high-fived each other. Pictures were taken and all 3 of us felt great!

We hiked up the hill and met up with Robert and Peter, who were getting set to leave to join up with the ship. The 3 of us left with Robert and Peter and made our way on the zodiac back to the ship. What an absolutely wide ride we had on our way back. The wind was up, the waves were white-capping and each of us was bouncing off the side of the zodiac, hanging on as we knew 1 slip and we could be in the water. Halfway back, in the middle of this rough ride, Robert looks at Peter and says, “what the heck are we doing in this”. It was a wild ride and one I am glad to have experienced.

The remainder of the team that did not camp gathered in the lounge and Robert made an announcement that the golf ball extraction team #2 was successful. Robert asked me if he could have the ball and the ball was presented to Virginie, who was very upset that it was not found earlier that morning. I was asked to sign it and Robert did as well.

After meeting with Robert, we hung out in the lounge until it was time to crash. I am going to bed extremely tired this evening……..

It is difficult to explain using temperatures because they do not tell the whole story. The best way to describe it is to think about climbing into your freezer in your house. Next, turn a fan on and make sure it is CONSTANTLY blowing 30-40 knots (about 35-45 mph). Finally, drop snow and sleet into the fan so it flies into your face and body at that speed. Now stay in it most of the day so you can get a real sense of Mother Nature here in Antarctica today. I must admit, that before today, I questioned the weather here and the horror stories of the Drake Passage. No more questioning!

Due to the bad weather, the first zodiac was delayed heading toward land. Finally, it left. I was the 2nd to last person on the 2nd zodiac to leave. It was a long, wet ride over. The wind was blowing causing the waves to whitecap along the way. Upon landing, there was a 20 minute walk up to the E-Base and E-Home. This wasn’t a normal walk. There was one of 3 things you would step on with each step. It would be a patch of ice, a 4” to 20” pocket of snow or a crunchy combination of ice, rock and mud. It is hard enough when you have to deal with just walking in elements like this but now you have to mentally think your way through each step and it really becomes hard work.

Upon arriving at the top, we learned that the conditions were too dangerous to bring any more people over and they suspended it. Now the work came! We had to take loads of the E-Base teams gear down. These folks have been living there for 18 days so they had some heavy gear. When the wind is against your back, it aides you walking along. When it is in your face, it takes much more energy to trudge ahead. So after 2 trips, I was tired. Upon returning, we were able to visit the E-base and E-home. In the E-Base, we learned how the solar panels and solar tubes performed. Additionally, I stood right in the spot where Robert did the LIVE video conference from to us last Monday. From there, we went in to the E-Home. To see the room where 7 people slept was quite interesting. It was very obvious that this was not an easy 2.5 weeks they had spent there.

Robert was concerned that nobody else would be able to make it over so he asked us to help take the loads of heavy equipment from the E-Base to Russian base. On the first trip, 4 of us were carrying a load of charcoal on an extremely heavy door. About a third of the way down to the base, we hit an area where we all started to sink. We immediately dropped the load and worked our way out of this mud, which I was in about 2/3rd of the way up to my knees. When we were all safely out, the mud slid down the hill like a mud avalanche. We were able to get the equipment out and take it down to the base. After another trip carrying a load, I was tired. Several of us skipped the 2 hour hike to see what ended up being 1 Elephant Seal, couple of other seals and some penguins on the beach and so I stayed in E-Base to visit and talk to people, as well as be outside in these conditions mentally thinking about where in the world I actually was (it was easy to do with conditions today).

After making my way down to the beach, I was able to see my 1st penguin up close and personal. After that, we loaded onto zodiacs for the ride back to the ship. Almost there and we hit a huge waves that soaked us all. WOW – is that water cold (33°F to be exact).

After a nice dinner, Robert gave part 1 of his presentation. This man has the ability to engage a group of people in a way that is a huge inspiration. It was an incredible end of an incredible day – I must say that I am glad we finally met her!!!!!

Time to crash, rumor has it we will be in Iceberg Alley in the morning…………

After breakfast, the morning was full of activities involving Leadership on the Edge programs. The program was interrupted to let us go outside and view the incredible sights. We passed the whole way through the Antarctic Sound, having to break through several patches of ice to get there. We got to the Weddell Sea and turned back around and went back through to get the Brown Bluff. We went on-shore at Brown Bluff and had a group meeting. Robert made a speech so everyone knew how special a moment this truly was. He said, “we are one of a group of about 150,000 people that have stepped foot on the continent of Antarctica. A big, single soccer game can hold 120,000 people so think how few people have really been here.” After Robert’s speech, there was a silence among the group as reality set in where we are. After a hike up the mountain to take group photographs, we headed back to the ship.

I had the privilege of having dinner with Robert and we discussed many things including Akzo Nobel and the expedition as well. I must admit that it was a truly memorable dinner to have with him while he is in HIS environment. After dinner, we heard Robert give Part 2 of his presentation. The group was captivated, even more than last night. We have another night of traveling, this time on the Bransfield Strait.

Early night to bed, as I will join Robert on the ship’s bow before sunrise…………….