Radioman Rides the World.......

[KeithTurk]

Brrr... that just looks cold

[LadyDraco]

Originally Posted by Radioman

There will be lots of photos soon........ Merry Christmas everyone!! Hope your enjoying this Holiday with family and friends!

What a great shot... Nice balanced of colours...

[Manolito]

Merry Christmas, Mark !

[Scubalong]

Merry Christmas to you Mark
Safe travel and thanks for the wonderful RR

[Radioman]

Antarctica Expedition experience.

How do you share a trip of the lifetime? It was in my travel plans from the beginning, and as the day of departure arrived, I was excited as I packed my gear and walked down to the pier to start this new adventure. Once again starting something new and unknown. I had booked the cheapest type of room onboard to keep the costs down, so I knew I would be in a room of 4 people. As I arrived, so did all the other 98 passengers. All with the same enthusiasm and excitement.

Up the gangway.



Get my gear in my room, pick a bunk, meet my other roommates for the journey. David from UK, Michel from Holland, Arnout from Holland. Much more on these guys as they trip unfolds, but lets just say it was great to have randomly landed in the room together!

Then up to the main lounge for our initial briefing and then safety lessons!



After all the initial information, it is off to dinner and we pull out of the pier and take the Beagle Sound toward the Drake Passage which has a reputation of being one of the roughest sea's in the world. Since I have been prone to seasickness my whole life, I am not wild about this possibility, but have take the normal precautions.

Then Dinner. It is another transition to having 3 - 3 course meals served per day.



Meet my roommates starting on the left side Aarnout, David, Michel, Suzanne (honorary Roommate from Switzerland), and Astrid from Holland who is the Ships Doctor from Holland.



This is the route that our ship the Plancius took.



The first night we started across the Drake Passage, and we had really easy crossing which is unusual…. But very glad as I can get seasick, but did not!! It changed the trip for the rest of the ship as well, as everyone was out watching the sea birds and Fin Whales. People were interacting as they got to know each other during meals and onboard. People from All over the world. Belgium, France, Poland, Holland, US, UK, Australia, Germany, Swiss, Japan, China, Switzerland. Canada, Singapore/India

Some Seabirds as we cruise south.





Our first sighting of Finn Whale.



Amazing people that all are here to experience this lifetime trip!!

Getting to the Peninsula and seeing land with snow and ice. The beauty and size gets better each day! We had an amazing time when we spotted a large group of Orca Killer Whales about 40. They were all around, swimming, blowing, diving ….. The ship was abuzz with awe and cameras snapping millions of photos ….



Really like this photo as I capture my roomate Aarnout and a whale that he did even see as he was watching others off the side of the ship.



We shared photos as others had big Digital SLR's with expensive lens.... Here is one from Suzanne! Awesome shot!



Then back inside the ship to review photos and have a nice cup of coffee.



So much more to share with you....

[Mr. Vintage]

Very cool Mark - and Merry Christmas!

My nine year old son walked in a day or two ago, saw ADVrider, and immediately asked "so where's Radioman?".

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Vintage

Very cool Mark - and Merry Christmas!

My nine year old son walked in a day or two ago, saw ADVrider, and immediately asked "so where's Radioman?".

!! Merry Christmas!

[C-Stain]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Antarctica Expedition experience.


So much more to share with you....

[acejones]

Great pics from the "deepest south".

Enjoy !

[Radioman]

After two days passage we reached Antarctic Pennisula!





It was really exciting after only open ocean for two days to see Mountains and Snow ! Everyone on the ship was excited....





and a wonderfully calm sunset!



With more Whale sightings



One evening when we just sat down for dinner, we had this amazing whale watching experience as the sun was setting and we could see many whales blowing in the distance! It was a great time as they served us dinner! Cannot really capture the very excited mood of all the passengers as we shared this moment!

The the expedition got busy, as we had zodiac landings, hikes, snowshoeing, zodiac cruising and a Polar plunge!



Standing on the antarctic Continent!!





and one of the Chinstrap Penguins!



Michel captured this great shot of Penguins on the ice!!



We stopped on Deception Island to have a look around and enjoy being in the center to a Volcano that erupted and created this bay.



This chinstrap penguin was one of my favorites as he was striding along the beach.....





and other interesting things to see on the island as well.



Water boats from the old whaling station here.







The roommates I had in room 203, was a real bonus to the trip !! We laughed a great deal, and had fun with the other passengers and crew. Room 203 was known around the ship

Then it was time to a polar plunge! We had over 30 people of the 98 on board that made the plunge!

Radioman in antarctic waters (glad no Orcas were around )





Celebration!!



Our friend Suzanne from Switzerland was turning 30 on the voyage, instead of in a hostel somewhere on her own, it was great that room 203 and others on board stayed up to Midnight to start her birthday celebration!





Suzanne Celebration on the bow of the ship!! Birthday in Antarctica very cool!





We all joined her to wish her well!




On a completely different note:



On my journey to South America, I have been planning to help out a friend of mine. I met Mark in a grief class in February of 2011, as His Wife Jenni died of Cancer just before my wife Chris did in January 2011. One of her wishes was that her ashes be spread on all seven continents. It is an interesting story, as she told him that he would find people to help him with this. I have that the privilege to help..... and I have had some of her ashes with me since I left Oregon heading south since 2011.



Upon arriving in the Antarctica, I was looking for a place to be able to make this happen.



Sitting atop a mountain on the Antarctica Continent, I set her free. Said a prayer for Mark and departed wife, and was glad to be able to help fulfill a promise! It was a special moment for me, not so much for me, but for Mark and Jenni!! RIP.



(was not able to emailing him and let him know until Christmas eve, but it was great to be able to tell him this was done.)


Lots more to share........ will post later!

[SgtMike]

It's great to follow along and see how your journey unfolds. But seeing how you share this with others in your life is truly amazing. Carrying the remains of a loved one for a friend is an honor you carried out with love and compassion. Bravo Mark, we need more people like you in the world.

Thank you for bringing us along!

[SavannahCapt]

Wow

[busdriver803]

The journey just keeps getting better, Thanks for taking the time to share it!!.

[Radioman]

The beauty of Antarctica is amazing in sheer size and magnitude. Remember 80-90% is still underwater!



The mountains and islands are huge and very majestic !




Taking a zodiac into one of the research bases.



This is a British base





It is fun watching the penguins walk about the island.



It would have really been fun to have my bike in antarctica...... But it is not possible to get a bike on the ship anymore, so I did the next best thing! Bike parts on Antarctica!



Then off to a new place..... This is one of the Argentina Bases that we stopped in...



and a cool iceberg that is right near the landing point.





and a group hike to the top of the mountain.



As we took a zodiac ride around the bay, we look back and realize that we were sitting on top of this rock. (no guard rails, warnings or safety warnings )





Lots of penguin watching as they are keeping their eggs warm....




And Suzanne took these great photos of the penguins.





But we got to spend a fair amount of time just sitting and watching them walking on their trails.



Then back on the ship for a BBQ and big Birthday Celebration for Suzanne and one of the other passengers.





The Birthday Girls serving Cake and Champagne!




Amazing days exploring antarctica. The staff and Crew of the Plancius were great at keeping the trip interesting, sharing their love of Antarctica with all of us!

[capeklr]

Originally Posted by Radioman

It would have really been fun to have my bike in antarctica...... But it is not possible to get a bike on the ship anymore, so I did the next best thing! Bike parts on Antarctica!

Awesome. This needs to be on the front page.