Perhaps part of the reason we travel is for the feelings of accomplishment and reward when we overcome unforeseen obstacles and challenges. Well, we ought to feel mightily accomplished at this point, as most of us had more than our share of epic challenges just to get to Dunedin, New Zealand to embark on National Geographic Endurance as we begin our Epic Antarctic voyage. Delayed flights, lost luggage, and flooding in Auckland affected most of us, requiring a delay in our departure from the city pier. But challenge can become an opportunity, and those who were able to embark last night had some “town time,” a chance to explore this important and picturesque city on the southeast coast of New Zealand’s South Island. We slipped lines and set sail within minutes after the last of our guests were aboard, and we headed for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the New Zealand/Australian Subantarctic Islands.