After a couple of days exploring Kukak Bay, Captain John navigated the Ursus to the larger, less protected Hallo Bay on the edge of Katmai National Park.

Nothing really prepared us for the heart-stopping thrill of seeing our first grizzlies in Katmai.

After our day in Kodiak, we took a float plane across Kodiak Island and the Shelikof Strait to the pure Alaska wilderness that is Katmai National Park, on the north-eastern coast of the Alaska peninsula.

Shawn is the reason we went to Alaska to play with the grizzly bears.

One definition of caper:  an act of frivolous, playful behavior

I'm not much for roughing it, but an opportunity to camp in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana was irresistable. Even to me.

Our trip itinerary called for one final landing on Antarctica, but that was not to happen.

Our final day before leaving Antarctica was a magical one.

Each day in Antarctica just seemed to get better than the previous one.

The 12th day of our epic trip turned out to be penguin day.