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!

27 Days to Go....and Someone has a Bit of Time on his Hands....

Tom’s Steps to Packing Light
(stolen from a very bright online travel article)

Step 1.  Get a small bag. Note:  We've got this covered.  See August 14th entry.  The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry. It is helpful to have a bag that can be carried as a backpack, or as a shoulder bag depending on the circumstances. It is also handy if it has wheels. It is quite common to have to walk long distances, climb stairs and have to do many things at once, all while you
have your bag with you. Not checking bags means faster transfers and no lost luggage.

Step 2. Plan your wardrobe so that everything matches with everything else. This does not have to be monochromatic or boring. Rather, it suggests a minimalist approach to fashion. Ladies, one skirt and a single pair of trousers can be matched with a t-shirt, a fancy blouse or a tank top to make six different outfits--plenty of clothes for a week journey. You can get fancy with a scarf, bandanna, hat or other uniquely "you" wardrobe piece. If done right, you might be able to get
away with one load of laundry rather than 'darks' and 'lights'. Guys, just follow suit.

• Bring enough clean underwear so that you can get through at least 6 days of our journey without doing laundry. This also goes for socks, if you will be wearing those daily. Laundry opportunities will present themselves as we travel.
• Bring at least one pair of waterproof, dark hiking shoes. Short of a river crossing by foot, they won't get wet, they are incredibly durable, and are extremely comfortable. Best of all, you won't be carrying additional weight and sacrificing the big space taken up by another pair of shoes in your luggage. A second pair or shoes such as sandals, thongs, or slipper might be considered. We will NOT be visiting any dressy or formal locations.
• Consider your packing space carefully. Put items inside of other items, like those Russian nesting dolls. Roll clothes into small rolls to reduce wrinkling. Stuff socks into shoes.
• Pack your dry toiletries in the one bag and your liquid and gel toiletries in another. Remember to keep your liquids and gels to no more than 3 ozs.
• Keep your hand lotion, water, sunglasses, ear plugs, snacks, toothbrush, floss, hair brush/comb, a change of underwear, pen, notebook, camera, and any special medicines and necessary items you need in the top of your bag or organized in a sensible manner because you never know what may happen at the spur of the moment when you travel.
• Keep your ID, money, credit cards, in a security pouch. Keep some small currency in your pocket for little purchases (rather than pulling out everything each time). Carry photocopies of your ID, visas, and credit cards with you but in a separate compartment from the real ones (the idea being that if you lose one, you still have the other). Consider 'buddy packing' where your travel partner keeps your important photocopies and you keep theirs. This is a great idea.
• Electronics. Think wisely about this category. Obviously you’ll want your camera. Even if you are not in the habit of taking pictures, don’t leave this off your list.

• Cell phones. Unless you have a great international calling plan you’ll find that even the shortest call will be amazingly expensive. Even if you simply want to check email on your phone, you’ll pay significant roaming fees. Tom will have a cell phone with him for emergencies. You will have access to telephones everywhere there is cell service so seriously think about leaving yours behind. If you do bring it with you, make sure you have your charger and any plug adaptors required.
• Laptop. Even a small one with charger with adds several pounds to your bag. We will have internet service regularly during the trip. All hotels and resorts will have internet stations. Tom will have his laptop and you are welcome to use his when WiFi service is available.
• Fans, headphones, radios, alarm clocks, etc. all take up space. Think long and hard about what you really need.

Step 3. Make a packing list and visit it several times before your final pack. Practice packing your bag several times.  Roll clothing so they stay less wrinkled and pack tighter. Use corners and other cracks and crevices wisely. For example I always try to pack things in bags and inside of one another. It’s easier when I’m looking for something. I like the small and medium compression bags, not because you can get a lot of stuff in your luggage but because it keeps things firm so they don’t wrinkle. Putting like things together such as all shirts in one, pants in another, socks, underwear, toiletries, etc. makes it easier to find quickly what I want. Instead of having to unpack and repack 20 items, I am only moving four or five.  

Step 4. What you don’t bring you can buy. The first rule in packing is to layout everything you absolutely are certain you can’t leave home without and then put HALF of it back. I love this concept and travel even lighter these days than on earlier trips. There is always something along the way that I will want that adds to my wardrobe…and the weight I am carrying. So if I start off real light, then I can enjoy more space for souvenirs I would have otherwise passed by.   

Tom’s Suggested Packing and Check List

In Daypack
Camera, battery charger, and plenty of memory cards.
Cell phone and charger if you decide to bring one.
Flashlight or headlight.
Binoculars (optional).
Pen and notebook.
Laminated Itinerary.
Sunglasses.
Extra eyeglasses.
Medications.
Sun block (can be purchased there).
Insect repellent (can be purchased there).
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In Backpack
Underwear and socks.
Four to five tops.
Two long pants.
Two short pants.
Swimsuit.
Rainwear.
Light gloves.
Extra shoes.
Toiletries (travel light).
Book (optional).
Travel games (optional).
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To Wear
Jacket.
Hat.
Heaviest Top.
Heaviest Pants.
Hiking Boots.
Money Belt
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Documents and Finances
Passport with Visas.
Shot record.
Driver’s License.
Credit & Debit Cards.
Cash.
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Can’t do withouts… you probably can...do without
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Now lay it all out and put back half of what you see. You’re all done. Put both pieces together and then weigh your pack. Decide if you really want to carry more than 25 pounds.

32 Days to Go - The Passports and Visas have Arrived!

Finally.....our passports and visas have arrived. Nearly six months in processing. We received a bulk package with the sorely needed documents yesterday. All appears in order and we are set and ready to go! We will be distributing them to the gang over the next several days. Only 20 days left before our big PRE-TRIP meeting and photo-taking workshop. Yippee!

Day 36 and Counting Down - A great Preparatory Day Hike...

This Sunday we gathered in Anchorage at the Potter Marsh trail head and hiked the ridge line toward McHugh Creek. This trail closely resembles one of the trails and terrains we will be covering on the Patagonia portion of our trip. We all carried at least 15 pounds in our packs and a great time was had by all. We have agreed to do the same route again next week and head out a bit further. It's getting close.

Thinking about Christmas Day . . .

We arrive in Buenos Aires following our Patagonia Trek on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning Denise and Andrea arrive and our group is complete. For the next 22 days we will be fourteen. Christmas Day in Buenos Aires is a family holiday with most shops, restaurants, and tourism venues closed. Coming up with an activity for the day has been a challenge. We could of course simply hang out in the hotel and enjoy the rest…but this group doesn’t like to sit still for long! Thus the challenge.

Well, after a lot of searching and telephone calls, we’ve found an amazing opportunity available for the day…and it’s going to be a big surprise. All we are going to tell our group is to enjoy a lazy morning, eat a hearty breakfast, and be in the hotel lobby no later than 12:45 PM and ready for a surprise half day adventure!

That evening we will meet at 8:00 PM for our holiday dinner and “Secret Santa” gift exchange!

45 Days to Go . . .

Some of our group have even less time to pack and get ready as they are leaving up to two weeks prior to our December 1st start date. Our passports and visas are complete and were mailed today. Our Alaska group has begun weekly hikes to get ready for the trek and all is on schedule. This coming week we head out from Anchorage and into the Chugach Mountains for a five mile hike carrying a 10 pound pack. It’s all getting very, very real….and all of a sudden a whole lot heavier!

We are so excited!

Disaster Followed by a Tremendous Upgrade . . .

On September 23^rd we were informed by Quark Expeditions that our icebreaker, Clipper Adventurer, ran aground in the Arctic on the Northwest Territory coastline.  With a hole in the hull, they were forced to cancel our Antarctica cruise scheduled for December 14^th.  This news of course was very distressing; so much time and so much planning.

After many emails and many telephone calls we were able to negotiate a different cruise date with upgraded accommodations as no additional cost.  The upgrade on the ship is great as we will all now have private double cabins with private baths.  The new cruise sails on December 4^th and is one day longer on a much nicer ship.  All of this meant a complete reworking of 48 flight segments (4 segments for 12 passengers), the canceling and rebooking of many hotel nights, the rescheduling of our Patagonia Trek to a later departure date, and the rescheduling of two private tours that were to take place on our free days….thank goodness for our free days!  Without them we would not have been able to accomplish the switch.  There was one casualty in all of this as Marie Jennings had to cancel her trip due to the date changes.  We will all miss her a lot as she is a valuable member of our little traveling tribe. 

After two weeks of negotiation and a lot of frustration the end result is an even better cruise that before in upgraded cabins.  All of these changes cost $643 per person.  We are currently in negotiation with Quark for reimbursement of this individual cost.  Bobbie says that this all worked out for the best as now we can eat a whole lot more on the cruise and then have the trek afterwards to work off the extra pounds!

83 Days to Go...

Summer is almost over, the leaves are starting to turn yellow, the days are growing shorter, and the temperature is starting to fall.  All final balances to our South American vendors have been paid in full and we are as committed as things can get.  Everyone is so excited!  Our first preparatory hike is on September 26th and will prove interesting to those who have not taken our advice seriously about getting into shape over the summer.

86 Days to Go....

Wow, the last two weeks sure went by quickly.  Our final payment is due today the trip.  Yikes!  How did that creep up on us so quickly...smile.  Bobbie through a surprise 60th birthday party for Tom on Saturday and quite a few of our group were present.  Some had not seen each other since South America 2008 and it was very cool to share memories.  A package from Clipper Adventures arrived today containing maps of Antarctica, a booklet on how to prepare for our exploration cruise, and lots of other really cool stuff.  October 31st is our group meeting to finalize questions, get excited all over again, and review the itinerary.  There will be a lot of stuff to cover.  VisaConnection mailed Andrea's passport yesterday and the rest are following shortly.  It's all coming together so nicely!

The FINAL COUNTDOWN Begins - 100 Days to Go

Day 100 and counting down.....

We've been "calendar watching" for what seems like years.  Looking back, I beleive the first conversations about this trip were a mere 723 days ago somewhere in the middle of Peru.  My goodness, how time does fly...smile!  Our cut-off date was January 15, 2010, and at that point we still had 318 days to go.  What happened in the last 215 days to make it all seems like a dream?

We started out with a barage of curiosity seeking emails.  That began shortly after our return from our last South American adventure in 2009.  Then came our commitment, signed agreements, and deposits.  That was this last January.  Next was the confirmation of airfare and the final negotiations of the tour elements.  The simplest was the Amazon Cruise; one phone call, two emails, and it was done.  The longest was the land tour from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls.  That has taken almost fourteen months to get done and only a few days ago, we discovered an error that needed to be corrected....oops, we had no place to sleep on our first night in Manaus.

Next up was the dubious task of getting eveyone on board with their passports and visa applications.  Neither Brazil or Paraguay accept applications at their US consulates.  That meant hiing an agent (this one in Texas of all places) and the processing journey.  As you can see from previous posts, we still don't have our passports and visas back.  This is to occur beginning this week.

Once the main elements of the tour were set in place and dates were firm came the time time to start filling in the blanks - those free days and what to do in each major desitination.  That was the fun part as early morning (3AM...you all see the times I write these messages) forrays on the internet revealed yet another "something" we simply could not pass up.

The gifts from all of this is that we will have "traveled" to these places a million times in our thoughts and dreams...and now, soon...the reality of actually being there will unfold.  In addition to the anticipation have some some really cool spiffs - five star hotel upgrades in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, all double private room and tents on our Pataponia Trek, upgrades on airlines to better seating, public to private tour busses for some of our land adventures, and many other surprise acitivities that no one knows about but Tom.  And all of this set into place after the final price was quoted at no additional charge.  It's magic.

Stay tuned for more as we begin our official countdown to December 1st!

102 Days to Go...

Our Brazil and Paraguay visas are complete and passports are being mailed back this week.  Our documents for the Antarctica cruise are in process and we are expecting our cruise handbooks in the mail shortly.  Bobbie and I did a 5-mile hike yesterday scouting out some potential locations for our Patagonia prep-schedule that starts October 1st.  Found a great three mile run in Kincaid that will test the metal of some of our hikers....smile.  Get those backpacks ready for the challenge.

104 Days to Go....

It's hard to imagine that after three years of planning, we only have 104 days to go and we can all hardly wait. Just heard from our visa processor that our Brazil and Paraguay visas are complete. Our passports are being mailed back to us within the week. It is starting to become very, very real. Our final balances are due on September 1st and everyone in our group has been amazing in getting their payments in on time.

Our friend Judy at LARC (Latin American Resource Center) has been amazing in helping us put together another terrific adventure. Through her, the quality of the tour companies with whom we have contracted and the amount of professional customer service is a bit overwhelming. When everything goes as planned we will be additionally very grateful to Ramiro at Quark and Ripoturismo Travel, Fernando at Patagonia Adventure Treks. and Gustavo at Amazon Clipper Adventures.

Everyone except Marie has received their "little" backpacks, the ONLY piece of luggage we will all be using for this trip...and the comments and concerns are flowing...smile..."not enough room for EVERYTHING I need to take," "Is this all we get," well, you get the picture. It's humorous. All anyone has to do is ask Verena and Andrea how they have learned to travel in Leopard Style.....

Bookmark this blog and check on it often. Our big adventure begins December 1st for most of our travelers and I will post as often as I get an internet connection along the way. In the meantime keep an eye on our preparatory progress.

View our complete itinerary and travel details online at http://www.alaskanleopard.com/PreparingForYourTrip.pdf

Happy Travels,