We have all arrived in Auckland, New Zealand safely. After having our boots inspected and (in some cases) rinsed, we are preparing for the next leg of our trip. (New Zealand takes ecological hazards seriously, and inspection of hiking boots is a precaution to ensure there is no transfer of invasive species or disease from soil to the island). Monday got lost somewhere in crossing the international date line, and we have gone from Sunday evening to Tuesday morning. This was my longest flight so far, and I have never appreciated noise cancelling headphones more.
It is a popular day to travel to Antarctica! In addition to our group, we have run into Professor Steven Padin, who does astrophysics research at the South Pole station.
After flying to Christchurch, we went to the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center) to be outfitted with ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear. After, we had a few hours before bed to check out Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens. Tomorrow, we wake up at 5am to fly to the ice!
I can’t wait to read about this adventure, so excited for this wonderful woman