Drop in at the South Pole? Not

While it's hard to drag me away from anything POLAR you couldn't drag me to the south Pole on the upcoming anniversaries of Scott and Amundsen's journey's to the elusive Pole. The New York times is running an article today by Jennifer Kingson on the new craze to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Scott and Amundsen's feat by "dropping in" to Antartica for a little look see. Yikes.

Since we're leaving in September my goal for January

is to figure out if I can attend the Shackleford Autumn School in Kildare when we're in Ireland. I won't let the fact that Ranulf Fiennes called him a "gas bag" deter me. And I'm not going to footnote stuff, but he was quoted that in the tremendously wonderful book by Isobel Williams, With Scott in the Antartic. Of course it goes without saying (although I'll probably be a giant gas bag when I talk about it) that we're visiting the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge the day after we land in Heathrow. I do not want to get ahead of myself though. Today, since I'm having my domino buddies over for Sue and Pascale's birthday dinner and I'm making Irish stew as we speak (Speke, now there was an explorer), I've got to see if we can go as a visitor for a day at Shackleford's. My daughter will only be able to stand one lecture. Me, I could attend the school for a year. It's good for me to have her perspective. She anchors me, if you'll excuse the pun.

Information on Shackleford's school is available July 2011, duly noted. There was a lecture Nov 19, 2010 by Michael Smith on his book The Great Endeavor about Irish explorers. When we get to the Athy Heritage Museum we'll be able to hear it. Since my birthday is September 28 and I want to be in Ireland for it. I may have to schedule the trip more in October than September to catch a lecture at the Shackleford's.

Better than running for cover

Although... I don't know at any given time whether I'm running for cover or clover. Since my goal this year is to get to Scotland/Ireland and Wales and it's more positive to run for green grass than cower under a blanky, so let's go with clover. Running is the operative word anyway. I'll have to haul ass to get there in nine months. No, not the kind of hauling ass that happens when you strap on your trainers... that my friend is physical exercise, this kind of movement is very small and uses ten digits. The only car I'll see when planning for this escapade is carpal tunnel This is 2011 travel sponsored by Off Peak times, Promo codes, reservations online, virtual tours, and Rick Steves DVDs.

Since the very thought of all the computer time makes me nauseated, naturally the first first stop I've planned is Glenmorangie Distillery in Scotland. Nothing like a slug of single malt to get the blood flowing, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Cramming in all the planning is impossible since I live in Danville and work full time in SF. I'm a commute hog traveling to and fro alone in my car due to my rabid fear of enclosed spaces under water. BART is not an option. My daughter who will be accompanying me on the trip is content to let me plan it which is not altogether good. It's her graduation present from college. If she wants to come with me on an adventure I make up so be it. No complaints and no using the word "awesome" to describe A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

And we're off...