Pro-Soup Propaganda: antarctica

Showing posts with label antarctica. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Heading To Argentina and Antarctica Today - Want To See My Carry-On Items?

Thanks to Tips of Travelling for the image!

Holy. Cow.

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!

The trip that I have planned for for the past several years is finally happening.

Much like I did with my trip for three weeks in Peru and Easter Island, I thought I would share what I am bringing with me for the next month. Let's recap: I get to DFW tonight and fly all night to Buenos Aires, spending all day Thursday there, and then heading to the airport in the wee hours to take a 4:45am trip to Ushuaia, Argentina, aka "The Southernmost City in the World." I officially leave on Saturday at 4pm on the M/S Expedition for three weeks with the goal of getting to Antarctica! After returning to Ushuaia on January 30 I will stay at a B&B until I leave on February 4 to return to Portland. Whew!

Like my last trip to South America, I will be carrying everything in my Patagonia MLC Bag and REI Purse. Surprisingly, my bag feels a lot lighter than it did when I went to Peru. I would be surprised if my bag was even ten pounds, seriously. So what *am* I bringing?

Clothes and Layers

Columbia Women's Back Beauty Pants

Smartwool NTS Midweight 250 Zip-Neck Sweater x 2

Patagonia Piton Pants (Currently on sale for 25% off on Backcountry!)
Patagonia Capilene 4 Pants (Currently also on sale!) (I wrote a love letter to these!)
Patagonia Capilene 3 top x2
3 Bras and 3 pairs undies
Columbia Hiking Shoes for bumming around ship (I need non-slip soles)
Patagonia R-1 Jacket
Patagonia Winter Sun Hoody
Patagonia Triolet Jacket
Patagonia Triolet Pants
Patagonia Better Sweater Hat
Mountain Hardware Windproof Gloves
North Face Apex Gloves
Merino wool buff
SmartWool Socks
Patagonia Merino Socks
Darn Tough Merino Socks
Swimsuit (Polar Plunge, baby!!) (There's also a sauna onboard!)

Electronics

Canon PowerShot S100 Digital Camera

Panasonic Lumix Shockproof and Waterproof Camera

Extra camera batteries

Travel adapter

iPhone & charger
Moto X & charger
MacBook Air & charger
Kobo Touch & charger
Camera & phone waterproof cases

Miscellaneous

Water bottle

Personal toiletries

Cash for M/S Expedition personnel tips and Argentina spending money

Tickets/travel insurance documents/trip details info

Passport (duh)

Rite in the Rain notebook & pens
Earplugs

If you want to follow along online, check out my Instagram here, or check out the M/S Expedition's Instagram! Or if you would like to see this adventure from Frank the Travel Cat's point of view, here is her Instagram! Here are some pictures of other adventures we've been on. I can't wait to update her map!

Seriously, though, a HUGE THANK YOU to anyone who donated money to my trip fund, hired me, paid for something, or what-EVER to help make this trip happen! I have been saving for this trip since 2011 and to actually be leaving on it today, fulfilling a freaking HUGE LIFE GOAL, is kind of nutty. So thank you!! :o)

Monday, December 30, 2013

Pro-Soup Propaganda's 2013 Year in Review

Oh, 2013, what a funny, weird, great, horrible year you were.

I did some pretty awesome stuff this year.

*I did a fair amount of hiking! I did some nice walks at Mt. Tabor, other hikes around Portland, went to some parks, hiked up Multnomah Falls, and hiked (and camped!) in Central Oregon's high desert, to name a few.

*I met Lil Bub, Internet Cat Sensation!

*Jonathan and I finally kayaked and it was awesome!

*I got laid-off from my "main" job and all of my side-hustles soon became my job! Luckily I am making a bunch of money and am able to put a ton of it into savings.

*I saw Michael Pollan speak for the second time.

*Jonathan and I went whale-watching at the coast and it was awesome!

*I had a great, well-earned sandwich at the top of Mt Waynapicchu.

*I went to Ketchikan to work a lot and saw some bears, went to Easter Island and saw a lot of moai, saw the Nazca Lines, hiked the Sun Gate Trail, was forgotten by the train in middle-of-nowhere Peru and hiked back to Machu Picchu Pueblo in the dark (still one of my top favorite travel memories!), explored Machu-freaking-Picchu!, and explored Cusco.

*We adopted the weirdest member of our family, hands down. Welcome, FunCat, we are glad to have you, even though you may be a small evil orange wizard, but we are glad you live in the Fortress of Joy with us!

*I made a packing list of my carry-on bag for my three weeks in South America. Maybe it will inspire or help you?

*Amy and I had some amazing conversations.

*Jonathan and I only snowshoed once this year. We tried to go again last week, but Mt. Hood doesn't have enough snow on it. Boo!

*I thought I helped co-create #slothing but apparently it's been the rage on the internet already.

*I fulfilled some Gob Bluth wannabe-ness and rode a Segway!

*I cooked some of my favorite recipes that I still love to make: Chicken Vegetable Soup, Thai Coconut Soup, Basil Garbanzo Beans and Quinoa, Curry-Fried Quinoa, and the best Chicken and Veggie Noodle Soup ever!

*I visited a U-Pick farm with Amy and look forward to returning!

While there were more many happy memories this year than not, this was a really painful year in parts. I had some personal life issues that took several months to deal with. I'm still dealing with them, really. I'm doing my best to focus on the now and look forward to healing and feeling better, but sometimes it sucks. I feel kind of lost and floundery sometimes (like I'm floundering, not like this guy, cute as he is). I know things will get better and I'm doing the best I can, but I am really excited to go to Antarctica and focus on me for a bit. I have been working my butt off the past two months and am looking forward to reaping the benefits.

This was my list of 2013 Resolutions. While I actually did pretty good on that stuff (yay reading lots of books and saving money!), there is stuff that didn't really happen (going to the Japanese Garden and yoga).

This new year is going to be called "Year of the Radical." (2013 was "Year of the Waffle." It was a delicious year.) There are going to be some radical changes. Things are going to be shaken up. Amy is going to be moving in with us quite soon, which will help both her and us with our respective money situations. I will be going on my big adventures. Jonathan and I will both be getting mountain bikes. We want to go on more bigger adventures together. I no longer need to totally kill myself with trying to earn money to pay for my trips. I will still be hustling but I would like to think that now I don't have to drive myself crazy with Making All The Money, but, who am I kidding myself, it IS nice to have it. ;o)

Brendan Leonard's post "Do Things And Make Things Next Year" really resonated with me. His goals for next year? "Do Things" and "Make Things." After being SO busy this year and having it jam-packed with everything, I am looking forward to a little bit of downtime. I want time to do stuff and time to make stuff. What will those things be? I don't know, but I look forward to finding out.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

What I'd Really Like For Christmas

That little guy there is Holiday Seal. He lives down the street from where I live and it's not officially the holiday season until I see him out in the yard in front of his house. (It worries me that it's already the first full week of December and I haven't seen him yet this year, though.) Come out, come out, wherever you are, Holiday Seal!

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I'd like for Christmas. I still don't really want any "stuff" for the holiday. Know what I'd really like? I'll tell you: money (or gift cards) for experiences! Not to sound completely gauche, but this list is what I'd use it on. It also sucks that some of this stuff is fairly spendy, but even money to put *toward* it would be helpful!

*Frames for art - I have several pieces of art that I'd love to display, some that I've had for over a year, and the reason I can't display it yet is because it needs to be framed and framing can get expensive. I don't want fancy frames, but I would like something! I think $200 to put toward framing my art would be adequate or it would at least take care of most of it. We had a few things framed a couple years ago at I've Been Framed and I'd probably go back there.

*Gift certificates for the Bhaktishop - Yoga is one of my favorite things. I'd love gift cards to the Bhaktishop because that's the gift that keeps on giving!

*Kayak Class for Jonathan and I - Yes, I know how to kayak, but Jonathan doesn't and it would be more fun if we did this together! Also, I haven't kayaked since last year, so it would be nice to hear about kayaking in Oregon from the instructors. There is always more to learn! This class through Next Adventure looks fun! Two gift certificates is $130.

*Gas card for $50 - Since Jonathan got me snowshoes for my birthday, now I want to go play with them up on the mountain! Unfortunately, it's a little cost prohibitive because it's a full tank of gas round trip and we only have a $100 a month budget for gas, so, you know, we can't afford to blow half that in one day. Luckily, Shell has a gift card and that would help pay for a fun day of snowshoeing! (Bonus: some moolah for a pizza and beer at Double Mountain after playing outside in the cold all day would be AWESOME.)

*San Pellegrino - Okay, so here is one thing I actually do want. I freaking love San Pellegrino. It's so fizzy and refreshing. I would love finding a bottle of water in my stocking. (No, really!)

So that's what I'd really like for Christmas. Cold, hard cash that I could then turn into something fun and exciting. I have everything I can think of that I need or want! But it's hard to take some of the money that I earn that I need to be saving for my trips ('cause trips to Antarctica ain't cheap) and spend it on a day at the mountain or kayaking for a few hours. I guess that's what I should probably do, but, Santa, if you're really listening, get me some fun experiences for 2013!

Friday, November 30, 2012

So This Just Happened...BAM!

BOO. YEAH.

Not counting the amount I've had to take out for trip deposits and airline miles, I just officially reached $10k saved for my trips on the day before my 30th birthday.

*happy dance*

Only have $11,000 (minimum) to save in the next year! I got this one, guys.

And how are YOU doing today? :oD

P.S. If any of you are feeling generous and want to help celebrate my birthday, you're welcome to feed the pig in the upper left corner of the screen. When I am strolling off into the Antarctic sunset, holding the wingtip of a penguin, I will be thinking of you. (Okay, that image is not *entirely* realistic, but bear with me.)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

A Video View of Antarctica!

Antarctica from G Adventures on Vimeo.

You may have seen me post this video last night, but I'm going to share it again because I Am So Excited. This is the boat that will take me to Antarctica in just over a year. Isn't it pretty?! I better love it because I will be on it for 20 days. I've signed up for the kayaking part that's shown. I am looking forward to the polar plunge and am bringing my bathing suit! I'm happy that this is a smaller ship, only carrying up to 130 passengers and up to 55 crew. A little different from the giant ships that pull into port in Ketchikan!

Also, I'm super excited that I am thisclose to having $10,000 saved for my trips! I've technically saved more than that because I've had to withdraw some to pay for two trip deposits and some airline miles, but $10K is a pretty good-sized number! Just gotta keep working my butt off because I know it will pay off!

Friday, August 17, 2012

I'm Freaking Out

I just booked my Antarctica trip. That is all.

Oh.
My.
God.

It's really happening!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My South American and Antarctic Adventure!

I thought I'd share the details of the trip I'm planning on taking. I'm going to do the "Patagonia Experience and Quest for the Arctic Circle" and the "Easter Island Pre-Cruise Extension" tours through G Adventures. I have several friends who have done tours with G and they had great trips. I'm hoping to magically somehow be able to do the trip happening in February of 2013, but I'm fine if I don't have the money saved up (soon!) in order to at least book the trip. There is a fair amount of hiking, camping, and kayaking on this trip, which is why I chose it!

My trip will start with me flying into Santiago, Chile, and hopping on the boat to take me to Easter Island. I really want to go see the moai!

Image by Wiki user Aurbina.

I'll spend six days on the Easter Island expedition and will then head to Buenos Aires to then meet up with the rest of my group in Ushuaia.

The second day we'll be hiking around El Chalten, Argentina. There's lots of mountains and glaciers in the area.

Image by LongHornDave.

Fun fact: the mountain skyline in Patagonia's logo is of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia. I'll be looking at it here!

Image by Martin St-Amant.

Image from Oregon Wild.

Hmmm...I guess I can see it...

We'll then be heading to the Moreno Glacier in Glacier National Park, Argentina.

Image by Wiki user Marianocecoswki.

We'll then spend a few days in the Torres de Pain National Park in Chile.

Image by Wiki user Miguel.V.

The three towers are the most famous pieces of the park:

Image by Wiki user Stevage.

We'll also be seeing the Grey Glacier in the park:

Image by Wiki user B1mbo.

We'll then head back to Argentina to Ushuaia to get ready to get on the M/S Expedition to head for Antarctica! We'll spend the next twelve days in transit. We'll head to Drake Passage, the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, cross the Arctic Circle, and then head back to Ushuaia!

Photo by NASA.

During the Antarctic part of the tour I will be signing up for kayaking and camping. EXCITING!!! Not to mention the hoards of penguins, minke whales, leopard seals, and a bajillion types of birds that we'll be seeing!

Can you see why I'm so excited for this trip? :oD

I just need to work my tail off and get at least $11,000 before the last quad-cabin room fills up on the M/S Expedition (there are currently five left). I'm thinking I have maybe four months in which to do this. I also don't know if the camping and kayaking spots have filled up, because there are limited spots and they can go quickly. If there is no chance of kayaking or camping and I don't get one of the quad rooms I will wait until 2014 to do the trip. If I am spending the bucks to make this a huge month-long trip then I want to do it right and do everything I want to do!

I'm trying to save up as much money as I can, so if you live in Portland and know anyone that needs pet-sitting, house-sitting, house-cleaning, manual labor, errand-running, WHAT-EVER! Let me know. :o)

Frank wants to go to somewhere, too. Doesn't she deserve that?

Thursday, December 1, 2011

It's My Birthday!

Whooooooo hooo!! Today is my 29th birthday! Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about it! I get a free hour long soak & sauna at Common Grounds Wellness Center tonight, which I have been looking forward to checking out for quite some time now. We are celebrating tonight in the Fortress of Joy by Jonathan making me chicken fajitas for dinner (it must be a birthday tradition now since he made them for me last year, too) and by taking me to North. We will continue the celebration on Saturday by eating lunch at Cartopia (I need me some Whiffies!) and, thanks to Google Offers, by doing tastings at Distillery Row and then attending House Spirits' 6th Annual Holiday Booze Bazaar, where we will be able to sip mini cocktails and nibble on more food, and then we will top the whole thing off by getting each of us a cupcake from Cupcake Jones aka "Best Cupcake Shop in Town."

If you are feeling generous and like helping me celebrate my birthday, please think about donating (even $5 helps!) to my Antarctica fund! I am hoping to go in January of 2015 and it is an expensive month-long trip! However, it's been a life dream of mine to not only go to Antarctica, but to see penguins in their natural habitat. $5 is like buying me a cup of coffee on my birthday. ;o) If you feel like helping me out, please clickie on the link below! If that doesn't work, clicking the pig on the left side of my blog works, too. Thank you SO MUCH in advance! I promise I will come back with lots of pictures of my excited face surrounded by king penguins (And gentoos! And chinstrap penguins! And Adélie ones, too! Not to mention minke whales, various seals, orcas...... *squeeeeee!*).