A Trip for the Ages: My Six Months in Antartica: Exceptionally Long Road Trip...with no roads.

What is a story without good beginning? I was able to take some pictures on the way down here to Antarctica. So, let me start from the beginning. I left my nest in Rhode island to start the first leg of the journey. PVD-whatever airport code Dulles is. It was a normal flight. I have done so much flying since I was 19. In fact, the first time I ever flew in a plane was on my way to Chicago for basic training in the Navy. It was the normal short flight. I had my iPad and iPhone for entertainment. I know it is not a novel thing, but United has to start having WiFi on their flights. Delta and Southwest so. They make the flight swing by so much faster that way Anyway, I landed in Dulles with just enough time to grab lunch, take care of a nose bleed and buy some decent over the head earphones for my next leg. I just hate earbuds, they are too uncomfortable.

My next leg was whatever airport code Dulles is-HNL. Yes, I flew from outside Washington D.C. to Honolulu, Hawai'i. That was a 9 hour flight. That was a long flight. exceptionally long. I left at about 1pm EDT and overall it was a decent flight. Again, with United. Only this time, my gripe was, along with no WiFI, I had to pay for my meal. Shame on you United Airlines. This made the flight unbearable watched 3 movies, played Plants vs. Zombies and listen to music, napped. I hate long flights...Oh wait, there is one more...

After landing in Hawai'i, I had about another 6 hours to kill before my next flight to New Zealand. It was hot and muggy there at the HNL terminal. See, there walkways are all outside since the weather is so beautiful. I was sweating too much, then again(personal info here) i sweat more than an average man should. I am talking superhero magnitude. After spending time at the food court and charging up my lovely iPad and iPhone and after an hour delay, i departed the US on my way to Auckland, New Zealand(the capital) at around midnight HST.

HNL-AUK. That flight was very nice. TV with ever seat, USB charger for the phone, complementary dinner and breakfast and a nice warm blanket and pillow to sleep as comfortable as I can be. Ed O'Neill co-hosted the pre-flight information video. AUK-CHC. After landing in Auckland and almost causing a scene going through customs, I missed my flight to Christchurch on the southern island. Well, with the flight leaving and hour and half late in Hawai'i, I should have expected it. I was automatically re-booked, which was nice and apparently the fog is behaving badly there. is caused another 2-3 hour delay to that flight. I hate delays. More so than ever. After another hour flight, I finally made it to my destination, Total time: approx 32 hours of waiting and flying plus crossing that wonderful International Dateline.

CHC-NZIR. Wow, you would think after all that flying I would be done. Well, never assume anything in this world. It may surprise you, better or worse. I had a measly two days to get my bearings. I was able to get out to sight see, but back in February 2011, the area was hit by a 7.9M earthquake essentially leveling the city. Nearly all of the historic buildings were destroyed. I rode a bike nicely provided by my hotel and surveyed the area, the ones that were not off-limits. I am almost certain that it would have been a grand city to view. Alas, it was not. The next day, it was time to ska-dattle. The day started with me losing my breakfast voucher. Not bad, though, they hooked me up. All the passengers arrived at the terminal and were given passes to leave the area, but we had to be back by 8:20 for a briefing then were bused to the USAF C-17 cargo plane that was our chariot to the Antarctic. We got to the plane, given a bagged lunch and a bottle of water. Five hours later, wondering what we were going to see when we touched down, we arrived. I stepped foot on the proverbial bottom of the world.