Gear!

Last weekend I was in NYC, visiting Jenny and accumulating gear.

Jenny insisted that I should write a blog post about the Flip Ultra camcorder and associated underwater case/housing.
[BTW, I'm just using the store links because they're convenient - Amazon is selling those goods at lower prices.]

The Flip Ultra records 60 minutes of VGA quality video. It's small, light, and simple. Seems good for casual use.

I would have gone with their Mino line that records in HD quality, but there's no underwater case for that line (at least as yet). I think the underwater case will be useful on the Antarctica trip for withstanding snow, sleet, splashes, and ocean spray.

Here's my initial video from earlier today (you can see the little white butterflies against the ocean background):


Here's my initial trial of the underwater case:


Here's the result of the trial of the underwater case:


And finally, here's the dunking of the camcorder while in the case:

Chicks Hanging Out at the Condo Complex

A bevy of chicks.




They're my peeps!

Spot-less

King George Island is Spot-less:
Coverage map for the SPOT satellite messenger

I might see whether or not a Garmin device will at least hold my route info for later overlaying on a map, but that seems like a lot of fussing.

My Iridium satellite phone will have coverage, thanks to the low earth (polar) orbit system (Iridium coverage and orbit map).

Although my BGAN satellite internet system should have coverage (BGAN coverage map), it is only for use when the vessel is not moving. I expect to not take it - we've worked out office back-up procedures that don't rely upon me having it.

King George Island

Here's the Wikipedia entry for King George Island, where we are scheduled to run the Antarctica Marathon 2009 on March 10.

Marker

Did an 18 mile treadmill run (1.0% incline) this morning. Heart rate stayed solidly in zone 2 throughout, so minimal drift. Took me a couple of minutes less than 3 hours; I'm slow but steady enough. Took in only water and salt tabs, so legs feel quite depleted.

Next week I have scheduled a recovery week, then my maximum volume and duration week (ending with a 20 mile treadmill run on which I *will* take in calories). From there I'll taper.

I have a long weekend trip to NYC in a little more than two-and-a-half weeks. That should be a good opportunity to try some of the gear for the Antarctica Marathon - and to buy a last bit of the gear too!