Heading south..................

I've been trying to load photos from here in Devon - also write more about my time in my hometown - but the Internet connection seems to be acting up the past couple of days, and tomorrow morning we leave for London on the start of our journey home. An overnight at Heathrow airport, then flying out on Sunday.

SO, instead you get this post which I've had waiting to share with you - my next adventure coming up very soon!

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OK, this one should be easy....in fact so easy it's hardly worth throwing out clues because I know you will ALL be winners. All my warm Winter hats are packed ready to travel so I can't even toss your names in for a draw like before, and how would I buy you a special prize when there are no gift shops where I'm going!

Let's face it, it's not a trip many people take.  

This awesome, distant place, 5,100,021 square miles of which 98% is solid ice, the coldest and windiest spot on the planet, where the lowest temperature ever -129.3F was recorded, and winds can reach 200 mph. Some tough ocean waters to sail, of which the Drake Passage is the roughest in the world. At it's northern limit on one day a year the sun does not set or rise........it is so remote and difficult to reach it's not at the top of 

most travelers' wish list!

These are the books I've collected for the journey................yes, I know what you're thinking, why 

does she need so many. No I don't have an e-reader. Yes, I have considered purchasing one to use for travel, but I already have these recent purchases and I do still love reading 'real books'. There should be ample time during the many days at sea to curl up with a good book, and my knitting, in between zodiac rides, photography, and sharing interesting conversation with about 130 other adventurous passengers, plus the expedition leaders, and crew.

This is our itinerary for January, where it will be Summer and we may enjoy high temperatures of 40F degrees! Paula and I will be off to the seventh continent - she's been before so has told me, and shown me, her photos of the awesome things I'll see and experience............and I'm planning to share it all with you!

Paula is taking me on this fabulous adventure, literally to the end of the earth, to celebrate our fifty years of friendship! There, in a place with no official language or currency, no official population other than governmental research stations with small groups of scientists, and no shopping, we'll have time to reminisce about all we've done in those many years gone by, and share another new adventure together.

Our ship, G Adventures M/S Expedition
Photos via their website
If you're interested, more details HERE 
for the complete itinerary of our expedition titled 
SPIRIT OF SHACKLETON.

A very HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone......and many thanks for following me to some amazing places in 2012. 
Hope you enjoyed the trips and are ready for more.  
We leave for Argentina on this awesome adventure January 9, 2013.