Team members say

Today is one of those few days we have in life when you say, how can all this incredible stuff possibly happen in 1 day? I had an early morning up and a very cold way to start on the top of the ship. What a way to wake up – cold, crisp, fresh wind blowing in my face. We made the overnight trip and after breakfast, a call went up to say Orca whales on the bow. A pod of Orca’s was swimming around and we followed them for awhile. What a beautiful creature and they move so effortless in the water.

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…………..

A first for me through the night when I could not sleep due to someone other than me snoring so loud I could not sleep and they happen to be in the same tent with me. After breaking down the camp-site this morning, it was time to do a little golfing. Trond (known as Norwegian #2) helped me scrape the top layer of ice to get to a flat driving platform. I tee up a Brand New Maxfli Noodle Ice #1, orange in color. Peter took a GPS reading of exactly where I teed off from. I was able to use a standard wood tee and drive it into the ice. After getting everything set, I took several practice swings, took many poses for pictures and then did an interview with Kyle prior to hitting the ball. The team got into position and actually took a walking pole and hung a hat over it in the middle of an snow area in the middle of the rocks used as a penguin rookery. I got the go ahead, got everything all lined up and hit it. I had no idea where it went when it left the left. Fortunately, the team heard it hit the rocks and bounced back into the snow. I teed up another ball, this time a fluorescent yellow Pinnacle. I hit this one and again, had no idea where it went. This time, the team had no idea where it went either. So, I decide I am going to tee 1 more up and this was another yellow Pinnacle. This one was nailed, right in the sweet spot and a nice imprint of the ball in the center of the driver face to prove it. I was able to watch the ball travel instantly and it was headed dead at the made-up flag on the “ice” green. The ball landed in the snow and plugged instantly. The team immediately circled it and a GPS reading was taken. The ball landed approximately 8-10 yards short of the flag, dead on line. After I hit the 3rd ball, the team spent a little while trying to find the 2nd ball I hit with no luck and the search was called off.

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……..

I left Roanoke, VA a week ago and ended up in Buenos Aires, which was beautiful weather. From there I went to Ushuaia, the world’s most southernly city and the weather was nice as well. From Ushuaia, we spent 2 days crossing the Drake Passage and the weather was exceptionally good as well. We spent the evening in Maxwell Bay last night and the weather was not bad either. But today, yes today, we met her!!!!

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…………

A wake-up call alerts everyone just before sunrise that all hands on deck as we are about to enter iceberg alley. An extremely windy, cold morning proved just the right opportunity to test our Canada Goose jackets. Robert was on the top deck and greeting everyone and explaining where we were. The images we saw were breath-taking. It is hard to explain but they seemed too perfect, as if someone had taken these massive icebergs and placed them perfectly in this area. We were able to get up close and personal with these as these icebergs went straight down in the water. We also learned that at some point in the middle of the night, we passed the area where the ship, Explorer, had hit a growler (underwater iceberg) and sank.

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…………….