This time of year many Michiganders head south for the winter to escape the cold and snow.
Darryl and Carla Lambertson are among those migrating south in December except the Oxford couple won’t be winging their way to sunny Florida. They’re heading for the frozen desert continent of Antarctica.
‘I think we had a moment of insanity,? said Darryl jokingly.
The Lambertsons, both of whom are 60 years old and first met as kindergartners at Daniel Axford Elementary, will spend six days aboard a Russian research vessel converted into a tourist ship island hopping along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Married for 39 years and travelling the globe since 1992, the couple’s visit to Antarctica will be a milestone in that they will have set foot on all seven of the world’s continents.
Over the years, the Lambertsons have visited the British Isles, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Kenya, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, China, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
It was during their visit to South America last year that the Lambertsons realized it’s ‘not too much farther to Antarctica.?
After some research on the internet, Darryl said they decided, ‘Let’s give it a shot.?
‘It sounded like fun, so we signed up.?
The Lambertsons will depart for the frozen continent from Punta Arenas in Chile, the southernmost city on Earth, as part of ‘Antarctica XXI: The Only Air Cruise to Antarctica.?
A three-hour flight aboard a De Havilland DASH-7, a Canadian-built charter plane specifically designed for low temperatures, will land the couple on King George Island, part of Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands.
Flying avoids the five-day (2? days each way) boat trip across the stormy waters of the Drake Passage.
From King George Island, a zodiac boat ? an inflatable craft popularized by Jacque Cousteau ? will take them to their Russian tour ship.
Once aboard the ship, the Lambertsons, along with 44 fellow passengers, will embark on a six-day cruise through the islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Using the zodiac boats, the couple will land on seven islands and weather-permitting, even some icebergs.
From observing numerous penguin colonies, whales and seals to visiting scientific research stations and abandoned whaling stations, the Lamberstons are going to see sights few people in the world have ever viewed first-hand.
The least known of the earth’s land masses, fewer than 200,000 people have ever been to Antarctica, considered the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth.
A total of 13,571 tourists visited the frozen continent during the 2002-03 Antarctic summer, according to the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook.
‘From what I’ve read, Antarctica is one of the up and coming tourist attractions,? Darryl said. ‘It’s gained in popularity.?
Apparently, the tourist season runs from November to early March during the continent’s summer.
Just because Antarctica is noted for its frigid climate, don’t think this trip’s all polar jackets, thermal underwear and Wellington boots (provided by the tour).
‘They told us to bring swimsuits because there are hot springs,? Carla said.
Day Two of their journey will find the Lambertsons sailing to Deception Island, a dormant volcano whose peak imploded, forming a broad craterlike basin now flooded by seawater. If the weather is suitable, the couple will take a dip in the hot volcanic waters.
A good-humored couple, the Lamberstons noted they have their kids to thank for this $15,000-plus trip.
Darryl said he told their children ? ‘You guys are paying for this trip. This is your inheritance. We thank you.?
Once they’ve conquered Antarctica, the couple’s planning to go on a mission trip to Honduras in April through their church, Oxford Free Methodist.
As for other future trips, Carla noted she wants to go back to Russia, visit Hawaii, check out Easter Island and go through the Panama Canal.
‘We’ve got to live a long time because we’ve got a lot of places we want to go to,? Darryl said.
by seawater. If the weather is suitable, the couple will take a dip in the hot volcanic waters.
A good-humored couple, the Lamberstons noted they have their kids to thank for this $15,000-plus trip.
Darryl said he told their children ? ‘You guys are paying for this trip. This is your inheritance. We thank you.?
Once they’ve conquered Antarctica, the couple’s planning to go on a mission trip to Honduras in April through their church, Oxford Free Methodist.
As for other future trips, Carla noted she wants to go back to Russia, visit Hawaii, check out Easter Island and go through the Panama Canal.
‘We’ve got to live a long time because we’ve got a lot of places we want to go to,? Darryl said.