And we're off . . .

Tom and Bobbie head off to Tampa, Florida to spend four pre-trip days with family and friends and meet up with Frenchy.  Together they will drive down to Miami on the 1st.
 
Kathryn is in transit to Miami via Minnesota where she has been visiting family.

Sara in in transit ti Miami via Seattle where she has been visiting family and friends.

John, Amelia, Hans, Judy, Verena, Rita, and Carol flight out very late on the 1st.

Denise and Andrea leave on the 23rd and will meet up with the group in Buenos Aires.

One Week to Go . . .

We all met last night for our final trip meeting.  We enjoyed a feast of Patagonian lamb, roasted potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and green bean with carmelized onions.  Afterwards we grabbed a glass of red wine and went over all of the trip details, answerwed questions, and reviewed our packing ideas.  There was quite a bit to cover!  Following our meeting we were treated to a great three hour workshop on how to take amazing photos.  Marco and Becky from Gutierrez Photography were on had and did a really great job of orienting us to the special features of our cameras.  All that is left now is finalize affairs at home, get plenty of sleep, and fly to Miami. 

We are almost there!

20 Days to Go . . .

We did another great preparatory hike yesterday.  We started off at the Alaska Wildberry Farm parking lot and managed to accomplish about four miles down an icy and cold Campbell Creek trail, each carrying a full pack.  We headed back the way we had come and ended our day at the Peanut Farm with a cold beer and some great food compliments of Leopard Trax.  Tom heads back to Anchorage this coming weekend in hopes of joining the group for one more extensive hike up the Tony Knowles trail to Point Woronzof next Sunday.

Our final group meeting will be on the 18th coupled with a great photographic workshop.  It's all coming together nicely!  Keep on counting the days!  Yippee....South American here we come!

Cool Travel Accessory

Looks like our Leopard Christmas is happening a bit sooner than we expected.  While searching for restaurants on line for our trip we found this very cool travel accessory.  It is a close-out at REI and has some great features.  The travel clothesline comes with ten feet of nylon cord, ready-hooks on both ends, with a tightening ratchet, and the clothespins are alligator style clamps secured on the line.  Each couple and single lady gets one.  This will certainly come in handy.  No doubt about that!

Checking the Weather . . .

For us Alaskans (and one Virginian) who will be leaving the cold and snow of winter in a few weeks, here is what is coming our way.

Ushuaia - 55 today and getting warmer.  By December 4th it should be 65.

Antartica Peninsula - 39 today. By December 8th it should be 48.
El Calafate - 58 today.  By December 15th it will be in the 70's.
Buenos Aires - 82 today.  By December 25th it could be as hot as 100...yikes!
Manaus - Amazon - 89 today.  By January 5th it will be in the high 90's.
Rio de Janeiro - 78 today.  By January 10th it will be in the high 80's.

How exciting!