NSF supplies the protective clothing we need in Antarctica. So, in the
afternoon, we went to the Antarctic Center to get our clothing. Every
piece of clothing has to be tried on and there is a LOT of it. If any of it
doesn't fit or is broken or torn, the item has to be returned and
another checked out and tried on. Once all the clothing is satisfactory, each
person's clothes have to be packed in duffel bags, one to carry on to
the plane and the other stowed in the cargo hold. Then each bag is weighed
to be sure it is no more than 75 lbs. Our bags weighed around 40 lbs., so we
were allowed to add clothing and supplies we had brought from home. It took
some of our team members about 2 hours to complete the whole process.

And boy, those clothes are warm! We should be well protected from the elements.
This evening we had a nice dinner in town and toured the marvelous Christchurch Botanical Gardens. The gardens are so lush, with an amazing variety of flowers, grasses and trees. Many of us saw a giant sequoia for the first time in our lives. It was a beautiful peaceful time.
We are scheduled to leave for McMurdo Station in Antarctica at 6:30 am tomorrow.
We hope that the weather holds so that there is no delay or cancellation.

NOTE: This was the entire journal entry, not just page 1.