Spring Break

From time to time I am reminded how wonderful still being in school is. One of those times is spring break. This year my cousin, Grant, came to visit for the week. It was great to get to spend some time with him and to show him a small slice of California. Which includes a stop at the over crowded golden gate viewing area. Grant and Louie tolerated my requests for photos. They sure are handsome devils!
Grant had never been back packing before so we made sure that happened on this trip. We spent three days in Point Reyes national sea shore. This is a great little area, much more scenic than I had expected it to be and there is a lot of wildlife within the park. We started out with a short hike in on Saturday to a campsite with a beautiful overlook to the ocean and the some of the park. It rained on us that night, and we woke up to dense fog, the kind that gets you wet in five minutes. We decide to stay and as we moved out closer to the coast the fog lifted and the sun came out. After a sunny lunch break we played on the beach by Arch rock. Fun place, Grant and Louie climbed up and down every which way racing the waves as they crashed against the beach. Our second night we were right next to the beach and spent a long time exploring it before dinner. The beach was littered with agets, and perfect skipping rocks. We walked down to a waterfall skipping rocks in the surf and beach combing. Grant, despite the not so warm weather stayed in his shorts and walked almost the whole way in the surf. To be 14 and feel no pain. We managed to stay dry between short rain showers and hoped our luck would last.....it didn't. It rained all night. We made breakfast under the rain fly and rushed to pack up camp when it let up. Back on the trail we didn't get five feet before the rain started again. Despite the less than perfect weather conditions we had a good time. Much of the hiking was under the cover of trees so we didn't get the full force of the weather. Most importantly Grant really enjoyed it and wants to go again. Mission accomplished.
The rest of the week was full of more exploring. We spent a day at the aquarium, did some ocean swimming and visited SF. We had a wonderfully sunny day while in SF. It is the first time I have been there and been able to see the whole golden gate bridge. We did tea tasting in China town, rode the cable cars to and fro, walked Lumbard street, enjoyed some street shows, and had a sundae at ghirardelli's.
Spring break, yeah I will miss it, then again maybe I'll just keep going to school.....
To end this post I have to include a picture I just couldn't help but take. My most favorite fish, Eumicrotremus orbis, the spiny lump sucker! Normally I wouldn't take pictures of animals in exhibits, but they were really putting on a show while Grant and I were at the aquarium, smimming all over the place. And did I mention they are my favorite fish, I had to try to get a pic. One day I will find one in the wild and THAT will be big news.how could you not love this fish?!

My Chilean Family

When I was in high school I spent my junior year on foreign exchange in Chile. It was an incredible year and my host family had everything to do with making it that way. By the end of the year they had become family. My exchange experience was unique at another level, it was a true exchange. The same year I went to live with the Varas's they had sent their oldest son Ricardo to live in the US. He started in Texas, but the program couldn't find a family that was willing to host him for the whole year. So while I was settling right in, Ricardo was bouncing from family to family. At this point the Fry's stepped in and offered Ricardo a place in their home and hearts, if he was willing to spend a winter in Alaska. This was a big deal, Ricardo had never seen snow before, he grew up in Vallenar which is on the Southern edge of the Atacama desert (big spider country). After a little thought he decided to go for the whole experience, Alaska and the Fry family.
Leaving Chile after a year was hard, not knowing when I would see the Varas's again made it even more difficult. I returned to Homer, to my senior year in high school, then college, and now grad school. I'll do the math for you, that is 10 YEARS! Being that Chile was the jumping off point for Antarctica it presented the perfect opportunity to see my family again.
During the flight to La Serena to meet them, I was filled with so much excitement I was shaking. I have to admit there was a little nervousness too, 10 years is a long time, would the connection still be there? I knew the moment I saw them all waving down at me from the airport balcony that nothing had changed. Well almost nothing, Gera went from cute 7 year old to a grown 17. I was only able to stay four days, but we had a wonderful time.While I was there it was Vecko's birthday. He was ready to eat the cake.Hiding from the sun at an artisenal fair. Gera, Loreto, Vecko, and Tina. We were watching local dancers perform traditional dances from the numerous Chilean regions.We made cinnamon rolls! Loreto is very artistic with layering the sugar on the dough. I had made cinnamon rolls for them many moons ago, but forgot to leave the recipe. Loreto was very happy to get it after waiting so long with the memory of cinnamon rolls and no way to make them. While I was there the Coquimbo soccer team had their first game in the new world class futbol stadium. The stadium was completed in December 08 in time for a game between US and Brazil's women's team. The game we went to was the first local game. Ready for the game to start. Tina, Vecko, Loreto, looking at the camera. Gera, Ricardo next to him in yellow, at the end Cynthia and Antonia.The old stadium had high fences with barbed wire on the top to keep people off the field etc. The new stadium has a trench all the way around it and the track. The distance to the field seemed to keep the field clear of debris thrown by the crowd. I did notice that there wasn't nearly as much stuff thrown by the crowd as there was the last time I went to a game in Chile.Abuelita and Mama cooking up fried fish for lunch. I really enjoy having large lunches with the whole family, and the food was wonderful. Nothing compares to home cookin!The crazy sisters
One more birthday photo.Ricardo, his almost 1 year old Antonia and Cynthia. I had a blast meeting Cynthia and Antonia for the first time. The whole family taught me a few new songs. Antonia really enjoyed listening to us sing, she would clap along and dance in her chair.This is the Millinium cross, it wasn't here 10 years ago. It was a surprise to see such a large structure in an otherwise small town. It is 30 stories high and on top of the tallest hill in Coquimbo. You can go up to the top for a fantastic view of the surrounding area.
I am very much looking forward to returning with Louie to Chile to introduce him to my wonderful Chilean family. We had so much fun together in such a short time, I really look forward to spending more time with them in the near future. One more big reason to graduate this summer.

Antarctica (el fin)

Two and a half weeks home, time to get up the one last post of my trip.
Back to Cape Shirreff, here are some photos of the Southern fur seals. They were laying all around the camp and chasing each other up and down the hills. A group of pups near the water kept busy playing and chasing eachother around the rocks. A few of the pups were very curious and came right up to Amy to check her out.The elephant seal below couldn't be bothered by all the activity, she barely opened her eyes as we hauled boxes past her up to the camp.


These two chinstrap penguins were an entertaining pair. They took turns leading eachother around in circles and zig-zags for the duration of our time on shore. See the video below.
Wet baby fur seal. They are cute, right up until they bite you. No one suffered a bite while we were there, but we did hear a few horror stories. Moral is, watch out for the cute ones.


I find penguins to be endlessly entertaining, on land or in the water. I love the way they have to hop over every little rock because their legs are too short to step over the rocks, makes me chuckle everytime.
Besides all the cool wildlife, there is also some spectacular landscapes and large amounts of ice.
First tabular icebergs we saw. They are incredibly large, and very beautiful. I couldn't get enough of them.Joelle making sure you notice the LARGE hunk-o ice in the background. photo by Kristen A.This one had trapped its own cloud. last two photos by Mariaphoto by MariaWe had some pretty nice island views throughout the cruise, but it was really enjoyable the last few days when the clouds lifted and we could see the tops of the ridges.
Joel in the black downy, Kim has the lolly pop, Tony in green, and Dug in the back with the red coat. This isn't everyone, but you can see it was a fun group. photo by MariaHere we are hanging out, during a bad weather day I think. As you may have noticed this is the intelligence center. NO DRINKS ON THE TABLES! photo by KristenAmy and I getting ready to go to shore at Copa. photo by Kristen
There are many more photos, as it was a wonderful trip and we saw many wonderful things. If you want to see more be sure to ask next time you come to visit us.

Antarctica (part 2)

It took us 2.5 days to get from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands. Crossing the Drake we had sunny days and calm seas. Our first order of business was to re-supply two field camps. One is located on King George Island and the other is on Livingston Island. Both of these field camps are part of the AMLR program doing research on Antarctic predators, penguins and fur seals. Researchers had been at the field camps since Oct. When we arrived in Jan it was the first time they gotten fresh supplies. They were very happy to see us.
Copacabana on King George Island (aka Copa)The field camp is on the beach just to the right of the phallic rock. Those of you that have been kayaking with True North should also be able to pick out "Southern Elephant rock". The beach between Copa and the glacier is all penguin colony. On the zodiac ride from the boat to the beach we were escorted by many porpoising penguins. I was impressed with their speed in the water, and laughed a lot to see them swimming about doing what penguins do.The Jacobs ladder.
I personally loved getting in and out of the zodiac, I should add that I never had to do it in angry seas. When getting in or out you had to time it with the swell. For example on the way down the people before you would tell you which rung to stop on, even if it was 6ft above the zodiac, then you waited. When the swell brought the zodiac to your feet you stepped off, but go quick because the swell is about to fall again. As I said, it was good fun.A closer look at Copa. photos by Joelle SweeneyCopa from above. To the left is the outer edge of the Gentoo penguin colony. I am standing with Kristen Green, another MLML student who has been at Copa since Oct. It was great to see her and all that she has been doing.
This is what 3 months of produce for three people looks like. The boxes above and below the last shelves also are full of produce.
It didn't take us too long to haul all the supplies up the beach and unpack everything. Then we got to explore and the kind folks at Copa made us a fabulous lunch.Another look at the penguin colony next to buildings, they are mostly Gentoos.
Penguins every where! And there are fewer now than there were a few months ago, the chicks are getting all grown up and their parents have started leaving them. photo by Joelle SweeneyThis photo is also by Joelle, unfortunately my camera battery died shortly after landing on the beach. Big thanks to eveyone for sharing their photos and letting me take pictures with their cameras.
Adelie penguin colonies above Copa. You can tell it is an Adelie colony by the red color of the ground around the colony. The color comes from their poop, they eat krill and it shows. Earlier in the season the colony was as large as the outline in red.You have to forgive me, I don't remember all the names of the folks in the back ground, we met a lot that day, but the two in the front are Jasmine and Joelle.Adelie Penguin, photo by Kim Dietrich. Check out those fluffy chicks.Adelie feet! photo by Kim Dietrich.The view from the main building at Copa. Penguins don't really know what to do when they get to the bridge. Some will walk across it, some get in the water and swim across. A few start to cross it then seem to panic and falter at the edge "should I jump in the water!?!". It is all very entertaining to the human observer. photo by Joelle SweeneyMe, Kristen, and Joelle enjoying the sunshine and watching Adelie penguins.Close up of an Adelie.Life in Antarctica is ruff. After leaving Copa we did a zodiac tour of the bay, stopping at this glacial spit for a rest.Time to head back to the Yuzmo. Joelle is happy with the thought of hot chocolate in her near future.
The next day we stopped at Cape Shirreff on Livingston Island. They mostly study fur seals at Shirreff, but also have on-going studies of Leopard seals, elephant seals, and the local penguin colonies. Shirreff isnt as green as Copa, as you can see.
We didnt have time to explore here, there was a lot more gear to unload. Lucky for us there are fur seals all over the place between where the boat lands and the camp. I'll get some of those pics up soon this post is long enough.