Mukilteo couple head south, far south, for cruise
Published 11:24 pm Sunday, February 17, 2008
It seems like a great time to plan a tropical vacation with white sand, cocktails by the pool and sunscreen.
That wasn’t the November plan for Helen Kendall and Bill Sanford of Mukilteo.
They headed in a different — freezing — direction.
They cruised to Antarctica from Chile with Lindblad Adventure Tours, partners with National Geographic.
“It is considered an ecotourism adventure tour, so nothing is formal,” Kendall said. “The food was excellent and the cabins very comfortable.”
Everyone on the ship were like-minded environmentalists and adventurers.
And they found adventure of the sad kind, after a Canadian cruise ship, the MS Explorer, struck an iceberg and began sinking. Endeavor responded to the disaster with another ship, M.S. Nordnorge.
“In the gray waters, occasionally dotted by an iceberg, we were able to count the Explorer’s four lifeboats and her eight Zodiacs. On those were all 154 souls who had been aboard.”
Everyone was rescued before the ship sank.
Endeavor continued on its expedition, with Sanford, who works for The Boeing Co., and Kendall, a “professional” volunteer who serves on several boards and helps with a variety of fundraising efforts. They’ve been married for eight years.
In the Antarctic, the couple saw three types of penguins and seals, two species of whale and many birds.
“Walking in this realm, with photo ops galore, we got to visit an area that relatively few have seen,” Bill Sanford said. “Onboard was an undersea specialist who dove into the frigid waters to bring back video images.”
Each day included visits to different sites.
“We ended the adventure with the captain pushing the vessel into an ice shelf,” Sanford said. “We descended the landing ramp to walk on the sea ice and have a barbecue and game of soccer on the ice.”
They were on the caldera of an active volcano, which fed the bay around them with warm glacial melt.
“With hot water descending the slopes, travellers were challenged to go swimming,” Sanford said. “Only upon attempting this feat, did we realize that the warming influence extends only about six inches into the 29-degree water, resulting in a polar bear experience in this southern part of the globe.”
The couple said they highly recommend a freezing-weather trip, having also enjoyed sunny cruises to the Seychelles and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Cortez to watch whales and the Panama Canal.
“The trip was head and shoulders above exotic experiences we have shared,” Sanders said. “It is truly a luxury to be able to see ourselves in this context of the Earth and its inhabitants, free of the noise and activity of cities in which we normally live.”
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
