Follow Cindy Goeddel as she crosses the Drake Passage aboard the National Geographic Endurance on her way to Antarctica

On Friday afternoon, after nearly 50 hours of travel, and a few hours earlier than planned, we finally embarked on the National Geographic Endurance.  Departing Ushuaia, the Southernmost port in the world, our Captain wanted as early a start as possible for the crossing of the Drake Passage on our way to Antarctica.  For the windiest place on the planet, the weather forecast was for a storm and high winds.  

This 500-mile wide strait between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans converge, can be the most treacherous of sea routes.  Porters covered up our beautiful windows with thick porthole covers using screws as thick as my thumb, and we were advised to secure everything in our berth.  The storm did not disappoint.  The waves we experienced were 37 feet high, the worst one resident naturalist had seen in twelve crossings, and we rocked and swayed throughout the night.  Morning finally dawned; I lurched, staggered and weaved my way to breakfast where, from the most incredible window seat I could never have imagined, I stared slack-jawed across the vastness and marveled at the immense power of the open sea.  

Following our mandatory safety and life-boat briefing, I had planned to photograph from deck, but slowly began to assume my favorite color.  My bunk welcomed me for several hours.  Now, thirty hours after departure the storm is finally calming, and tomorrow we anticipate spotting our first iceberg.  Tomorrow afternoon, our first step ashore on the Antarctic Peninsula! 

“You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.”   Psalms 65:5 NLT

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