We officially begin our epic voyage to Antarctica today. We awoke to favorable seas, somewhere between the Drake Lake and the Drake Shake. Staff informed, treated and decontaminated us in preparation for our arrival. IAATO is the organization that establishes rules and regulations for interactions with the white continent. We examined our gear for any possible seed or disease vectors carried from elsewhere. Boots, outerwear, packs, tripods and hiking poles all underwent processes to ensure sufficient sterilization. We spent the rest of the day watching the seas mellow and the sky brighten, very good omens indeed.