writing from the far, far south, turning around to head back north

Landfall Paradise Bay, still raining a bit and cold and damp but we are going as it is the last one.
Gentoo penguins have taken up a nice life amidst the semi-abandoned Argentine base there but even they seem a little deflated by the weather.  There was a smaller climb organized and I made it to the top this time, slide all the way down! Mom sensibly gave up on me and headed back to the ship early, so we missed our last Zodiac ride together, but that is how accustomed you get to things so fast, it didn't even seem like anything until we were back on the ship. For the last tour there was some impressive scenery the normal glaciers flowing down to the shore and amazing icebergs but also a multitude of seabirds and a waterfall from the melt-ice that actually had small tough plants growing around it with mosses and lichen everywhere. Strange to see those greens and browns after so much white and blue.



 Here's Mom:

Palmer Station is the smallest of the three US stations on Antarctica, our visit was fascinating and being able to talk to the staff was a great deal of fun.  They allow only 50 visitors at a time, so we were divided into four groups, we were in the second group.   We got a tour of the facilities and they served brownies and coffee at the end. 

Today was our last day in Antarctica and we were supposed to take Zodiac cruise in morning, but the wind was so bad that they could not lower the Zodiacs, it was up to hurricane strength.   In the afternoon we went ashore again, for the last time.  Paradise cove didn't stand up to it's name, it was cold, windy and rainy, I came back early.  Even with the bad weather it was a good day, Paradise Cove is on Antarctica, not an island, so I have been on the white continent, twice. We are heading north now to warmer weather, but first we will go through the dreaded Drakes Passage, then three planes to get home.  What I won't miss having to wear all the heavy clothes and boots.  I have done what I have set out to do, the seventh continent, before my 70th birthday.  I  proved to myself that I can do things that I never thought I could do and that I know my limitations.  Being 70 is not bad, in fact I am very happy at being 70, it's fun, I can do what I want, when I want and how I want.  One of the best part's of the trip is having my daughter with me, I would have done it alone, but having Lisabeth here, made it perfect.