17 days to go

In the last week, we've received the last of our online purchases. Everything from additional camera equipment and accessories to earplugs arrived throughout the last week. I've got a list of a few items to purchase at the very last minute - things like Bonine for motion sickness, eye drops for dry eyes, etc. that we want to bring but may not use. I figure if I purchase these items just before our departure I can return them if they are unused on the trip.

 

I've also started putting more and more items into the spare bedroom, awaiting the final packing. Today I spent some time with the new tripod, making sure that I understand how to operate the head and the legs, unfolding it and folding it back up again. We got the final pre-departure letter from the Cheesemans on Friday night, filled with last minute information and also a list of the participants and expedition leaders including pictures. It looks like there are 91 participants and 15 leaders, including the three Cheesemans. We also learned that 52 people (including us) are on the flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia on Dec. 29. That's about half the group, so we're pretty confident that if something happens with that flight we won't be left behind!

 

There are of course a few last minute items to consider, and we do need to wrap things up at work before we go. But with only 17 days left to departure, it's beginning to feel real!