Pam Usher

Pam and Tom

Pam Usher

We love travelling and we never get tired of seeing new places, learning about the history, meeting new people all over the world, observing different lifestyles and cultures. Our philosophy is to "live today as if there is no tomorrow". However as a well known travel writer, Bill Bryson has said in the Forward of his book 'The Road Less Traveled', "There are more fantastic things in this world to see than you can possibly hope to get to. You are just not going to live long enough. Sorry. So why are you just sitting there? Turn the page for goodness sake, and start planning". So that is what we are doing.



Europe » Hungary » Central Hungary September 15th 2022

We (Tom, Pam, Sheryl, Daryl & Kerry) decided 3 weeks ago that we were going to book a river cruise with Vikings from Budapest to Amsterdam. We were going to live on a long boat which held under 150 passengers. Vikings have always had a good reputation and since the drought throughout Europe, Vikings was one of the shallowest boats so could continue to sail along the Danube, Mainz & Rhine Rivers. Cabins, entertainment, comfort, food, and standard of organisation where all offer at a high standard. Staff were exemplary. Our cabin person John was fantastic. His day started with making our bed while we are eating our breakfast and cleaned the room, and the last task was turning our bed down and ensuring our room is spotless. John switched music on through the TV and ... read more
Bar & casual lounge
Bar on Gefjon
Casual lounge near bar

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Brisbane September 7th 2022

My apologies for you receiving odd blogs which were previously 'saved' blogs which seem not to be published ... which it turned out they were published. I therefore published them, and as it turned out, wrongly. Sorry for filling your Inbox. Pam Usher... read more

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 28th 2019

Day 6&7, 26 & 27 February, Southern Patagonia FITZ ROY EXPEDITION, Carlos III Island - Aguila Bay: We began the dry, slightly overcast morning touring the Kaweskar National Park, on the island of Santa Ines, which has a beautiful fjord called Helado Sound. Whilst in the zodiacs, in its background we appreciated the imposing Sarmiento and Helado Glaciers We went on shore at the foot of the Helado Glacier to get some close-up photos and so that the photographers could use their tripods to catch the depth of the ice caves we were gazing upon. It was beautiful. Having the time to and look at all the shapes and patterns in the glacier was beautiful and very special. For morning tea on the shore, we were offered whisky or chocolate milk, another wonderful touch. On the ... read more
Tom & Pierre at Aguila Bay - Helado Glacier
Aguila Bay - Helado GlacierJPG  (2)
Guides Francesco and Luis at Carrera Bay (53)

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 25th 2019

Day 5, 25 February, Southern Patagonia FITZ ROY EXPEDITION, Bárbara Channel – Helado Sound: We woke up anchored in the Barbara Channel, and after breakfast we sailed to the Shag Passage, in search of Humpback Whales. This is an area where they are feeding amongst birds and sea lions. What a day we had whale watching. All morning we spotted whales everywhere. Francesco, our main guide had worked with a researched over the past 10 years, had identified, numbered (by the whales’ flutes) and tracked their travels over these years. Every time we saw a flute, Francesco yelled their identification number. He had a book with all their photos and numbers of the whale’s tails. There was a mother with a new calf, so it hadn’t been numbered. Whales calve every 2nd year. There was also ... read more
Albatros in Bárbara Channel – Helado Sound  (2)
Bárbara Channel – Helado Sound  (10)
Whale #93 in Bárbara Channel – Helado Sound  (1)

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 24th 2019

Day 4, 24 February, Southern Patagonia FITZ ROY EXPEDITION, Gabriel Channel - Caleta Dighton: Early in the morning we went out in the zodiacs to visit the Tucker Islands, the place of Magellanic Penguins, Skuas, Cormorants on the rocks and Imperial Cormorants, non flying Quetru ducks (Magellanic flightless steamer duck) and Kelp geese, among other birds, in addition we will observe One Hair Sea lions that use their rocks to rest. The Quetru ducks were difficult to photograph because they were so quick, zipping along the water. There were 2 small islands that acted as resting places for the sealions. They were very inquisitive of us and jumped off the rocks to see what we were. There were a number of pregnant sealions as well. It was good to observe the Magellanic Penguins because we had ... read more
Andean Condor (7)
Magallenic Penguins Tucker Island (3)
Dark-bellied Cinclodes

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 23rd 2019

Day 3: 23 February Southern Patagonia FITZ ROY EXPEDITION, Brookes Fjord – We woke to the most magnificent morning with clear, crisp air, with the sun shining. Once I was showered and properly awake, we rugged up before breakfast and clicked madly with the camera. The reflection of the four glaciers was magical. The ripples made by the ship reflected the sun. It was beautiful. We just stood and took it all in. Finlandia Fjord: In the morning we toured the wonderful Finland and West Finland fjord and Glacier, in an environment of forests and waterfalls, with large ice on the beach. I walked along the foot of the glacier, making sure I didn’t get too close as some of the columns of ice looked very unstable. The staff served whisky or hot chocolate and ... read more
Brooks Fjord
Magnificent morning in Brooks Fjord
Brooks Fjord

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 22nd 2019

Day 2, 22 February Jackson Bay - Parry Bay: In the morning we divided into 2 groups to visit the Black Eyebrow Albatross colony on a small islet and an Elephant Seal colony in Jackson Bay (alternating groups to enjoy both places). Our group visited 2 beaches to view the Elephant seals hoping we would see more mature seals compared to in the Antarctica when we only saw juvenile Elephant seals as the mature ones were out in the ocean feeding for 6-8 weeks before they come to shore to mate. The juvenile ones were going through their ‘catastrophic moulting’ stage. On the first beach we only saw a few Elephant seals but on the second beach the other side of the fjord, there 29 seals lined up along the beach. The oldest one was probably ... read more
Caleta Maria Almarantazgo Fjord (3)
Loepard Seal (14)
c HMS Forrest (2)

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 21st 2019

Wednesday 20-28 February 2019 – Southern Patagonia We joined the FITZ ROY EXPEDITION Almirantazgo sound and Strait of Magellan tour with Patagonia Photo Safaris company for 7 days on the M/V FORREST This was a tour that I found on line which included several of the Patagonia fjords which would complement our land-based adventures we had from Punta Arenas before the Antarctic cruise. As an introduction, in Punta Arenas, we went to dinner with our new group. Everywhere in Punta Arenas was not far, so we walked to the restaurant. We had a pork dish, pisco sour or a calafate sour and walked back to Plaza Hotel briskly as the wind was very nippy. Our new group consisted of 4 Aussies from Canberra, 2 Swiss, 1 French lady now living in Brazil, and 6 ... read more
IMG_4173
a.1 maps (4)_LI
d Cape San Isidro lighthouse (4)

Antarctica » Antarctica » South Shetland Islands February 19th 2019

Tuesday & Wednesday 19/20 February: DAY 18&19 / KING GEORGE ISLAND (ANTARCTICA) – RETURN TO SOUTH AMERICA – OVERNIGHT x 3 in PUNTA ARENAS This morning we said our goodbye to our expedition team and transfer ashore by Zodiac……eventually! We were woken by Kaylan at 6.00am although she tricked us by saying it was 4.45am!! It wasn’t! After breakfast, we were told that loading would start at 9.00am which was when our luggage would be loaded on large nets and craned over the side into zodiacs and taken to the beach on King Edward Island. Several of the zodiacs were off loaded and luggage in place. Then, all of a sudden, the seas changed. Waves started to come over he zodiacs … with our suitcases in it. There were several zodiacs that made it to the ... read more
King George Runway and surrounds (14)
Captains Dinner on our last night (1)
Captains Dinner on our last night (2)

Antarctica » Antarctica » South Shetland Islands February 18th 2019

9. Whalers Bay - Pt Foster Deception island, the caldera of an active volcano, South Shetland Islands We were heading towards the narrow entrance to the Whalers Bay, Pt Foster Deception island, the cauldron of an active volcano. The day was 1 C degree with a breeze and we were doing a landing on the black sandy beach. Digging down into the black sand was lovely and warm due to the thermal activity which continues. The steam was coming off the water which was beautiful. The Captain steered the ship through the narrow entrance ensuing that he dodged the massive boulder in the middle of Neptune’s Bellows, the entrance. The surrounding mountains were streaked with snow, reminding us of a favourite spot of mine in Norway. In fact, as I was giving out our business ... read more
Icy swim at Pt Foster Deception island volcano (5)
Half Moon Island Sth Shetland Islands (17)
Half Moon Island Sth Shetland Islands (85)




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