The white continent

Antarctica » Antarctica
December 12th 2006

Published: December 23rd 2006

We turned south out of the calm waters of the Beagle Channel — and we are in the Drake Passage, on our way to the Antarctic Peninsula. How can one describe the Antarctic? Words are inadequate, and photos don't come close to capturing the grandeur of the environment. So, this must suffice as rough sketches from our trip, four days on the Drake Passage and five days cruising the protected waters ... Read Full Entry

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claire + dave

claire n dave

In July 2006, having packed up our homes and jobs, sold the children and robbed the bank, we left Australia for a year-long cycling and hiking (and mountain climbing) adventure, mostly in South America, via Cuba. Since then, we've been plotting how to do this again. Until it comes off we've made the most of what opportunities have come our way for smaller trips.... full info

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23rd December 2006

Monique Bond
non-member comment

happy christmas and an exciting new year
hi Dave and Claire, an overdose of wonder - what an apt description. Thanks for sharing this fabulous experience. The photos were magic and the descriptions made me feel I was there too. Wherever you are for Christmas our thoughts will find you and send you all our best wishes and love. All well here, Graham and Monique

23rd December 2006

Colleen
non-member comment

White Xmas
hi guys sitting here in the summer heat I got goosebumps/goosepimples/gaensehaut = gooseskin (depending on your origins) looking at this. Not sure if was the icy images or the 'other wordliness'/beauty of the place that did it. Have a great Xmas if you are even bothering to acknowledge it with so many other much more inspiring distractions on offer. ciao, Colleen

24th December 2006

Mark
non-member comment

Antarctica
You know I'm going to ask it so here it is - how's the skiing? :) I looked up some interesting facts about the area: 1. Antarctica is 1.4 times bigger than the USA, 58 times bigger than the UK. 2. Only 0.32% of the total area (nearly 45,000 sq Km) is ice free. 3. Antarctica has 70% of all the world's freshwater frozen as ice - and 90% of all the world's ice. 4. Antarctica was imagined by the ancient Greeks, but not even seen until 1820. The first time anyone set foot on Antarctica was in 1821. The first year-round occupation - overwintering - was in 1898. The South Pole was first reached in 1911. 5. 3 factors rule in Antarctica - cold, wind and altitude. Antarctica holds the world record for each of these three things. Lowest recorded temperature on earth - Vostok station -89.2ýC / -128.6ýF. Mawson station in Antarctica is the windiest place on earth. Maximum recorded gust: 248.4 kmh / 154 mpm.

24th December 2006

Dave's Mum
non-member comment

Wow, wow, and even more Wow!
Wow, wow, and even more wow, Dave and Claire, you have surpassed yourself with this experience and your wonderful literary description of your trip there is so wonderful, it brought tears to my eyes to think that my son could be there amidst all that splendour. it was wonderful to hear your voice yesterday, even though it was a terrible line. Have a lovely Christmas together and we will drink a toast to you tomorrow. love Mum XXX

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