Anthony ("Antz") and I have arrived back in New Zealand after a 12-hour flight across the Pacific. We are happy to have our house in Christchurch to come back to, but we will only be here another 24 hours. Tomorrow we will be issued our Antarctic clothing and gear at the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center) which is located at the Antarctic Centre by the airport here in Christchurch. Early the following morning is our flight to the Ice.

Tonight Antz is busy with last minute preparations for the trip. He is building a special camera housing that will allow him to take a time-lapse of the sun rotating in the Antarctic sky over a 24-hour period. The housing is made from a plastic cooler (Kiwi slang: "chilly bin") and the curved dome from a security camera set-up. It may be hard to visualize, so I will attempt to get a photo later on.

On the wall at Auckland airport...



On the flight from Auckland to Christchurch, I spotted what is commonly known as an "Airplane Glory" or the "Glory of the Pilot" or an "Anthelion." It is an atmospheric effect caused when the sun is directly above an object (such as our plane) and that object is close to a moisture-filled cloud layer, projecting a shadow surrounded by a "parhelic circle" onto it.



I wanted to get a photo of Antz sleeping on the plane, but didn't want to disturb the other passengers.

Ok, so here is what I love about New Zealand. Rivers are rivers and they flow all the way to the ocean. Coming from Southern California where rivers are tied and bound in concrete, I find this to be a miracle.



A heavenly patchwork of rich, green farmland...



Oh yeah, and the thrill of driving on the left side of the road...