Web Page Updates

Pretty well populated the site for the Antarctica Trip. (penguin.piqueroinc.com) I’ve gotten my notes and Photo Journal pages constructed. I’ve uploaded some of Joanne’s photos but am waiting for her to write her account of the great adventure. Then I populate her account with appropriate photographs.

I’ve got about 155 photos in my Flickr Photostream. And I geo-tagged a number of them. Hard to say where we were when we spent 2 days at sea.

On The Road, Finally

In a little under 15 hours the great adventure begins. Flight out of Austin departs at 12:10pm. Thus beginning a 28.5 hour journey to Ushuaia. 11 hours of that journey is on the ground waiting for the next leg. A full 7.5 spent in Buenos Aires. Originally we were just 4 hours but the flights got rearranged.

Don’t know how much sight-seeing we will do in Buenos Aires. Mostly I have to transfer between airports, about a 1 hour bus trip. It will be Sunday morning but I’ve seen ugly traffic in Seole, who knows.

We get to Ushuaia about 8:30 pm on a Sunday night. They eat late in Argentina, so I suspect the hotel restaurant or something local will be open.

Coming back isn’t as bad, 25 hours but only 8 on the ground. Fly into EZE so I don’t have the bus transfer in Buenos Aires. We have about 4 hours in each major airport. Plenty of time to clear customs. The US is typically a little harder, but a welcome sight after one of these trips.

Blogging will be light to non-existent. Once on ship we don’t have internet access. So, the stories and pictures will have to wait until I get back

It does appear that Ushuaia boast two local breweries. So, the opportunities for local Argentinian Beer is very good.

Badgers Win!!!

Back from Wisconsin. Cool weather and a nice reminder to get ready for Antarctica.

Surprisingly enough, the Badgers won. They were 0-4 for conference play going in. I hadn't really expected them to win. Nice to see old friends though.

Not too many picture opportunities. We only took a few walks, because of the weather. I got a couple of nice leaves turning color photos. Posted them as Weekly Photos

Back from the Midwest

Overall, the trip was a success. We found the gum boots in Wisconsin, and Turkey run had enough rain that we could try them out. Nice and snug with heavy socks and the walking wasn't too bad. I think they'll do the job.

The weekly assignment is Natural Framing. I had that in mind when we were trying out the boots. The trail followed a stream bed, plenty of mud, but deep cut channels into the rock. Got a photo to use for the Weekly Assignment

On the way back to Texas, we stopped in Paducah for an afternoon. They have a Quilt Museum. While Joanne looked at quilts, I went down to the flood wall. It is all covered with murals. I wanted to take a couple "framing" shots. Didn't use them for DPS, but one was interesting. It is the Ohio river through a door-way. Almost looks like a mural itself. That's the one I'm using for the Weekly Photo.

Weekly Photo Early This Week

I don't anticipate an internet connection when we get to Turkey Run State Park on Thursday. So, I've posted my pick for the week.

When I grew up in Stevens Point we had Point Beer (lager) and in the Spring, Point Boch. That's 40 years ago. Now we have a lot of alternate brewing styles, readily accepted by the market.

In some cases the label and the name sell the product, more than the taste. I haven't tried this batch yet, I want to take it along to Turkey Run. Since my buddies complain about my taste for regular Point, we will see if they are impressed with this style.

Got To Wisconsin

Don't know if I should consider it an opportunity to practice or a disadvantage. The weather between Austin and Milwaukee has been terrible. Heavy rain and high winds. Even had a chance to hear the Tornado Warning Sirens.

I could, I suppose, practice foul weather photography. I have opted for keeping the DSLR safe and dry. Plus I was more concerned about keeping the car on the road.

Arrived on Saturday, just in front of the storm that nailed the Milwaukee Zoo. The "planned" visit may be postponed on this trip.

Biggest problem is the quantity of rain. The storm sewers will catch up, eventually. But, you get some temporary flooding. I know where the low water crossings and low streets are in Round Rock. I'm not so sure here in Milwaukee.

On the plus side, we're going to go looking for rubber boots this afternoon. Mid-calf to knee high, all rubber, with a good tread. I'm betting that the farm stores here have more comfortable work boots for dairy farming, and at a better price, that more expensive hunting boots. I used to have some fishing boots with a steel shank, you could wear those for 12 hours comfortably no matter how much you hiked.

A Longer Road Trip

Getting the things together for a road trip. Driving up to Milwaukee from Round Rock. We’ll visit with Joanne’s friend for a few days and then drop down to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. Then home. About two weeks total.

I’m taking the Alpha with me. Loaded the Sony software on my laptop. I should be able to unload photos. Should also have some candidates for the Weekly photo next week.

It looks like they’re going to have scattered thunderstorms. But we might work in a trip to the Milwaukess Zoo. Then I could try out some wildlife photos.

Road Trip Report

Great weather for a drive to Marble Falls. Used the trip to explore a couple of new roads. There appears to be a North South road called Ronald Reagan Blvd that connects 29 to 1431. Mostly an entension of Parmer Lane.

Only found a few places with enough Bluebonnets to warrant stopping. A lot of the road had steep shoulders, and wouldn’t have been a good place to get out.

Coming home on 29, there were more Bluebonnets than on 1431 but nothing dense.

Got the pictures I wanted. Both with the Bluebonnets on the way out, and at the Middle School after we’d gotten home. Driving back into town I noticed a large number of small blue flowers. (I believe they’re called Dotted Blue-eyed Grass.) I’ll post two photos over at DPS next Wednesday.

My photo of the week for next week will be "The famous (but rare) Texas Spring(clip)-o-piller." Constructed from a ruler, spring-clips, and a Jack In The Box Christmas antenna ball. It even had ear-muffs.

Road Trip

Looks like it is going to clear up tomorrow. It has been off and on gloomy with heavy cloud cover. Drizzle the last few days to top it off.

I signed up to take Joanne to Marble Falls. It’s a smaller town about 40 miles from here, and along the lake.

The wildflowers are everywhere now. I should get a field or two. Next week’s assignment at DPS is "Spring."

Wildflowers are an obvious choice for the assignment, so I need a twist. I’m thinking of using a wine bottle holder I got for Christmas. It is coiled metal wire, so essentially it is a "Spring." If I put it in amongst a clutch of wildflowers, it’s a 2-fer!

AUS-ATL-EZE-AEP-USH

Finally nailed down the flights to Ushuaia, Argentina. I knew there had to be a rational schedule.

My web based efforts kept giving me mid-morning into Buenos Aires, but always a 5:40 am flight to Ushuaia.

Part of the logistics problem is coming in to one airport (EZE) and having to get to another domestic airport. (AEP). That early morning flight would have meant getting a hotel room in Buenos Aires, and checking out at 2:30 or 3 in the morning.

Instead my travel provider, Mountain Travel Sobek, suggested I contact Airtreks. The agent found me a much more liveable schedule. Going by way of Atlanta, but no overnight needed in Buenos Aires. Long day of travel, however, but I might get some sleep on the ATL-EZE leg.

Got some long delays between connections. But, that’s OK. Gives me room for flight delays, customs, etc. When I traveled for business I always opted for the next flight, not the tightest connection.