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Antarctica Adventure with Sea Kayaking

By : Cynthia Isaf
Trip Begins December 17, 2009
Trip Ends December 28, 2009

Our family came to kayak in Antarctica. So we had an additional agenda to fulfill. Kayaking around the icebergs of this great continent. So many moments that seemed so surreal.
See my photos : Antarctica Adventure with Sea Kayaking

Want to go? Polar Pioneer: Antarctic Peninsula

I went to: Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Argentina, Ushuaia, South Shetland Islands, Drake Passage
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December 17, 2009
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The Beautiful Ushuaia

Ushuaia, Argentina

We traveled to Ushuaia
A place we had never been before
All we knew was that it was at the tip of Argentina
And the place that we were to begin our Antarctica tour

Flying into this beautiful city
Our family gasped, for as far as we could see
Were snow-capped mountains, and a town so colorful and quaint,
A picture perfect village by the sea

We woke up early the next day
Excited for this trip that was finally going to be
The Aurora staff welcomed us to the Polar Pioneer
And we would soon begin our much awaited journey

Anchors Away!! the loudspeaker announced
And I'm sure our leaders saw 51 passengers smile
We had a most informative and "cozy" lifeboat drill
Then, off to the bar for "welcome" drinks and to talk for a while

We all came together for a briefing
And were introduced to our staff for the next 11 days on the sea
The Captain and his crew were from Russia,
Our leaders and kitchen staff were Kiwis and Aussies

December 18, 2009
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The Adventure Begins

Drake Passage, Antarctica

The Polar Pioneer moved slowly into The Beagle Channel
Ushuaia became only a beautiful memory
We spent hours getting to know the layout of our ship
And introducing ourselves to our Polar Pioneer family

And so began our journey on The Drake Passage
The roughest waters that we will have ever been on
But we were fortunate that the wind was behind us
And pushed us ever-so-gently along

We've been on the water one day
And with a sigh, I tell my daughters, "we're not there yet"
But we have time to learn some Russian to impress the crew
So instead of "hello," it's a friendly "Privet!"

December 19, 2009
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Are We There Yet?

South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

As we await our first sighting of our destination,
This dream, we all hold so dear,
We have time for a learning session or two
Jenny, our biologist, has our undivided attention, as we wait to hear

Lessons about the albatross and seabirds
That will accompany us on our voyage on the sea
We'll learn about the different penguins and their habitat
There's so much to experience and see

Another lecture is on whales and seals
We are more excited with each moment that goes by
Breathtaking photos lie ahead for us
Endless possibilites with an illuminating sky

We saw our first iceberg and whale sightings
And to most of us, a wondrous sight to see
Little did we know of the spectacular things to come
Close encounters and very personal they will be

December 20, 2009
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Land Ahoy!

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

We all gathered again in the lecture room
There was much to learn in this briefing today
As we were going to have our first Antarctica landing
The start of great things that will surely come our way

That meant one thing, and one thing only
We are getting closer to Antarctica, for sure
And looming in the distance was a majestic scene
Dramatic, high-cliffed mountains resting on a black shore

Our first landing, penguin colonies were everywhere
And we couldn't believe how deep the snow was when stepping-off the shore
But we didn't hesitate to follow Jenny on this difficult snow path
To see another scenic view, and one worth waiting for

Seals were cuddled together
In a truly magnificent bay
We were surrounded my majestic mountains
And all around us, enormous rocks jetting every which way

What a great day it was
Our first landing with the Aurora crew
We were up close and personal with penguins and seals
A photographer's dream come true

December 21, 2009
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Kayakers Take To Their Boats

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Our family came to kayak in Antarctica
So we had an additional agenda to fulfill
Kayaking around the icebergs of this great continent
So many moments that seemed so surreal

Each and every iceberg was individual in creation
Their curves and crevices, undefined
Every color hue of blue you've ever seen
And nestled on top, you never knew which creature you would find

At times, we kayaked through blocks and blocks of ice
And our daughters looked back at us, as if to say
"Did you know that we'd be kayaking through this?"
"Isn't it great!" my husband and I would say

December 22, 2009
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No Kayaking Today!

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Bad weather forced the kayakers to not venture out
So, we took zodiacs to Port Lockroy, the British Post Office and Base
We shopped for all kinds of Antarctica memorabilia
And mailed our post cards to each and every worldly place

It was blistering cold outside
And the snow was falling all around
But these penguins and their chicks
Everywhere could be found

To see these chicks with their mom and dad
Was a special photo opportunity on today's trip
But the cold, snow and wind soon chilled us to the bone
And we were excited to hear that it was time to go back to the ship

December 23, 2009
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Nothing Better than Celebrating a Birthday in Antarctica!

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

We woke-up to a rocking of the ship
Strong winds were the forecast of the day
But little could put a damper on this December 23rd,
My daughter's 24th birthday!

This was the night that we were to camp on Antarctica
Definitely, an adventure that we were looking forward to
But with the snow and wind, and no clearing in sight
There was much discussion on what we should do

It was after dinner when the snow came to an end
And if this was the only night, then there was no question what to do
So the 17 campers gathered their duffle bags
With a thrill of excitement, so true

We landed and waved good-bye to our zodiac guides
But Robin stayed with us, our trusted guide and trooper, too
How funny it was when my daughter asked about tents
No such luxury would we be entitled to

It wasn't an hour after landing
That sleet began to fall
So our laughter and visiting hours with each other
Came to a dramatic halt

The next morning we awoke
To a clear sky, majestic mountains as far as you could see
And our Polar Pioneer home
Was sun-lit and as beautiful as can be

December 24, 2009
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Christmas Eve's Excursions

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Today is a bit snowy
But it doesn't stop us from doing what we do best
Get on those Polar Pioneer zodiacs
And visit the Gentoo penguins and their nests

There's no walking on that brown path
The Penguin Highway it is called
So we maneuver through the knee-deep snow
As we try our best not to fall

A humpback whale, up close and personal
Gave the kayakers a spectacular treat this day
And some of the kayaker pairs pushed themselves to the limit
Paddling fiercely to be beside it every step of the way

Hydrurga Rocks was a special place
Both kayakers and zodiac travelers came to see
Penguins walking in every direction
And seals snoring ever so peacefully

Our cold and windy afternoon excursion
Would take us through canyons and cliffs soaring a mile high
With waters choppy, only our experienced kayakers
Decided to give it a try

All of us on the zodiacs
Felt as if we were in a Lord of The Rings movie
Drifting through these jagged rock formations
Whipped by the oceans fury

December 25, 2009
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Hooray! It's Christmas Day!

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Last night's Christmas Eve festivities
Swapping of presents and much celebrating in the bar
Made getting-up at 5:00am this Christmas day
One of the hardest get-up-and-go mornings, by far

Deception Island is our Christmas adventure
How bizarre to be in a volcano, I can surely say
Some of us chose to hike to this cliff top
And once there, the vastness of this volcano took our breath away

A whaling station use to be here
With remnants of buildings and boats all around
It's been years since they've been gone
But so many opportunities for interesting photos could be found

And lo and behold, on a zodiac did we see
A jolly old St. Nicholas all smiles and cheer
He found us on this Christmas Day
I guess his travels toward The South Pole brought him here!

We arrived on The Polar Pioneer
To find a beautiful Christmas buffet
Delicious foods of all kinds, and specialty drinks
And games that made us roar with laughter for the rest of the day

December 26, 2009
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Next Stop, Ushuaia

Drake Passage, Antarctica

Back on the high seas we did go
And that means The Drake Passage ahead
Our next stop is Ushaia
But we have to go through the very rough seas that we dread

Captain Sergey said "We are going to rock and roll"
And we weren't too sure what that did mean
But we soon came to feel as though we were in the movie "The Perfect Storm"
Peering through our windows at the highest waves we've ever seen

Not too many people ventured out of their bunks
And the meals were attended by fewer people, for sure
This was part of the Antarctica experience
Yet, I wouldn't say it was worth waiting for....

The day ended with the movie Happy Feet
And that brought smiles to all of us who went to see the show
We laughed at the movie, and how well the artists captured
The movements of the penguins that we had come to know

December 27, 2009
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ARE WE THERE YET???

Drake Passage, Antarctica

Oh, how we wish we were
Coming into the Ushuaia Bay
With the Drake Passage behind us
Wishful thinking, wouldn't you say?

One more day of rocking and rolling
Fewer shipmates seen the whole day through
With the ship tumbling from side to side
You wouldn't be walking the halls, would you?

Some of us were on the Bridge
For we just couldn't believe our eyes
As the monstrous waves reached these second story windows
We all gasped and held on to the railings so tight

Others were in the bar
Looking for anyone to pass the time away
A drink, a board game or reading a book
Trying to forget the fierceness of how The Polar Pioneer did sway

December 28, 2009
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Good-bye Dear Friends

Ushuaia, Argentina

Our wake-up call was at 6:30am
Far later than any other day
But since we had reached calmer waters
It was nice to sleep-in and peacefully lay

Breakfast was a time for reminiscing
And giving each other hugs, a smile, and perhaps shed a tear
For we had truly become a Polar Pioneer Family
And would surely miss each other as the end of our journey was near

It was a bright, sunny morning
When we walked off the ship, bags in tow
Photographing one another
Our shipmates that we had come to know

Cheers to you, Aurora Expeditions
For your fabulous crew on The Polar Pioneer
And thanks to all of you at Adventure Life
We had a vacation of a lifetime, a memory that we hold ever so dear

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