TimbukTOO Team Room

[brotherjim]

This is a cool (no pun intended) article. I have read many books about Mr. Shackleton and the Endurance expedition.


WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday — but the heritage dram won't be tasted by whisky lovers because it's being preserved for its historical significance.

The crate, recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton after it was found there in 2006, has been thawed very slowly in recent weeks at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.

The crate was painstakingly opened to reveal 11 bottles of Mackinlay's Scotch whisky, wrapped in paper and straw to protect them from the rigors of a rough trip to Antarctica for Shackleton's 1907 Nimrod expedition.

Though the crate was frozen solid when it was retrieved earlier this year, the whisky inside could be heard sloshing around in the bottles. Antarctica's minus 22 Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius) temperature was not enough to freeze the liquor, dating from 1896 or 1897 and described as being in remarkably good condition.

This Scotch is unlikely ever to be tasted, but master blenders will examine samples of it to see if they can replicate the brew. The original recipe for the Scotch no longer exists.

Once samples have been extracted and sent to Scottish distiller Whyte and Mackay, which took over Mackinlay's distillery many years ago, the 11 bottles will be returned to their home — under the floorboards of Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds on Ross Island, near Antarctica's McMurdo Sound.

Whisky lover Michael Milne, a Scot who runs the Whisky Galore liquor outlet in Christchurch, described the rare event as a great experience.

"I just looked at this (crate) and honestly, my heartbeat went up about three paces. It was amazing," he said. "The box was like a pioneer's box with the wood and nails coming out," he said.

Although Milne said he'd give anything to have a taste of the whisky. "It is not going to happen and I am not going to get excited about it," he said. "But if there was ever an opportunity, it could be a wonderful one to have."

Nigel Watson, executive director of the Antarctic Heritage Trust, which is restoring the explorer's hut, said opening the crate was a delicate process.

The crate will remain in cold storage and each of the 11 bottles will be carefully assessed and conserved over the next few weeks. Some samples will be extracted, possibly using a syringe through the bottles' cork stoppers.

[brotherjim]

Congratulations to Joseph as he passes 600K season meters Super rowing season!
jim

[brotherjim]

Happy Saturday to all, I hope this is a great day for you. Stay safe, stay hydrated. I think this is the 18th day in a row it will be over 100 degrees here.
We had a bit of a slower day yesterday, but still managed 68911 meters.

Stats for 8/13

John------------------------12721
Joseph---------------------13556 600K
Fred------------------------6507
Andrew--------------------5105
Tristan---------------------3011
Dalton----------------------2500
Kaylee---------------------2011
Ashlee---------------------1250
Jim-------------------------22250



jim

[brotherjim]

Happy Sunday TimbukTOO. I hope this is a great day for you. Another day here over 100 degrees predicted.
Team TimbukTOO had 57370 meters rowed yesterday. We are having a super season so far .

Stats for 8/14

Karen----------------6000
Britt-----------------10000
Everett------------- 2000
Matthew------------5000
Ashlee---------------1400
Kaylee-------------- 2050
Dalton---------------3000
Tristan--------------3000
Jim------------------24920

Karen is quickly approaching 250K, John 1.9 mill, and Tristan 200K. Let's cheer our teammates on.

Again, have a safe, wonderful day.
jim

[brotherjim]

Good morning/afternoon team TimbukTOO. I hope this turns out to be a good week for each of you. Not going to be 100 degrees here today!!! Finally. Only 97.
TimbukTOO had a big day yesterday rowing 151221 meters. Congrats to John for topping 1.9 million meters and also rowing a full marathon . Congrats to Tristan for making it to 200K.Congrats to Yisroel for topping 450K. Way to row teammates!

Stats for 8/15

Fred-----------------8252
Matthew-----------5000
Chuck--------------5000
John--------------- 43623 full marathon plus
Britt-----------------10000
Karen---------------9019 close to 250K
Joseph--------------13141
Yisroel--------------15171 450K
Pat-------------------11090
Ashlee---------------1750
Kaylee---------------1750
Dalton---------------2500
Tristan--------------3015
Jim------------------21910

Have a great day, please stay safe, and take care of yourselves.
jim

[brotherjim]

A big congratulations to Karen for exheeding (is that spelled correctly) the 250K season total. Good luck to John as he close in on 2 mill for the season. Keep up the great rowing teammates!
Great day for us yesterday , 77046 meters rowed. Solidly in 10th place overall. TimbukTOO is a strong consistant rowing machine.

Stats for 8/16

Ted-------------------------2513
Alison----------------------4000
Chuck----------------------5000
Matthew------------------5000
Stu-------------------------5000
Joseph--------------------7775
Karen---------------------8020 250K
John----------------------10547
Ashlee--------------------1750
Kaylee--------------------2005
Dalton--------------------2010
Tristan-------------------3000
Jim-----------------------22235

As always, have a wonderful day, stay safe, and take care of yourselves.
My computer is having some problems so if I miss a day or two, that is probably what it is.
jim

[brotherjim]

I wanted to mention one of the benefits of rowing on the erg. Tristan has been having football practice these past 2 weeks and the coaches are amazed at how much more strength and endurance he has this year. He has always been a little pudgy and slow, but after rowing fairly regularly for a year, he is leaner. I don't know how long he will stay so motivated (11 years old and way too many video distractions), but I am very proud of his work ethic.
jim (Gramps)

[brotherjim]

CONGRATULATIONS to Pat for crossing the 200K season total Way to row Pat!
jim

[brotherjim]

Good morning/afternoon TimbukTOO. We had a huge day yesterday with 175895 meters rowed. I believe we had the most rowers adding meters in one day, but I am too lazy to check and verify this.
Congrats to Britt who passed 150K Congrats to Casey who rowed a half marathon Congrats to Adam who rowed a half plus some Actually, congrats to everyone who rowed. Keep up the fantastic rowing.

Stats for 8/17

Adam------------------23101
Pat---------------------14568 200K
Stu----------------------5000 Congrats on reaching 150K
Karen-------------------7019
Britt---------------------20000 150K
Alison-------------------3000
Chuck-------------------5000
Casey-------------------21097 half marathon
Fred---------------------6160
Yisroel------------------15626
Andrew-----------------10005 closing in on 200K
Joseph------------------10267
Ashlee-------------------1700
Kaylee-------------------2050
Dalton-------------------4000
Tristan------------------4550
Jim----------------------22665

A quick update on Bobbie- School starts officially tomorrow but for teachers a week ago Monday. She is finished with in home PT and office PT. She has been riding an exercycle 20 minutes a day and walking about a mile. Won't be able to row for awhile yet because of the range of motion. She has moderate pain but that is expected for about 6 months after knee replacement. Really doing great and can't wait to get back to rowing.
Have a great day all and stay safe.
jim

[cventers]

I wanted to mention one of the benefits of rowing on the erg. Tristan has been having football practice these past 2 weeks and the coaches are amazed at how much more strength and endurance he has this year. He has always been a little pudgy and slow, but after rowing fairly regularly for a year, he is leaner. I don't know how long he will stay so motivated (11 years old and way too many video distractions), but I am very proud of his work ethic.
jim (Gramps)

That's awesome. I have my 6 and 4 year old asking if they can row. I worry about them not having the right technique and doing damage. Also I know first hand (by getting my son into the waves before he was ready), that it takes a long time to get bad memories out of their heads. I'd like for them to start rowing, but I'm a little hesitant in getting them started.

[brotherjim]

Hello TimbukTOO. I hope you have a great day. First day of school here.
We had a good day yesterday with 62606 meters rowed. Remember the dog days challenge.

Stats for 8/18

Pat----------------------------5502
Karen-------------------------5319
Matthew-------------------- 5000
Alison-------------------------3000
Casey--------------------------10000
Ted-----------------------------3219
Dalton--------------------------2011
Tristan-------------------------2700
Jim------------------------------25855

Have a great day, stay safe, and take care.
jim

[brotherjim]

Happy Friday!!! Another week almost through. Congrats to Matthew for reaching 450 K Congrats to Andrew for topping 300K Congrats to John for rowing a half marathon
A great day for TimbukTOO with 92998 meters rowed. Great job team

Stats for 8/19

Andrew------------------------10015 300K
Matthew-----------------------5000 450K
John----------------------------22541 half marathon plus
Pat------------------------------9350
Alison--------------------------3000
Joseph-------------------------6924 closing in on 650K
Ashlee-------------------------1550
Kaylee-------------------------2005
Dalton-------------------------2011
Tristan------------------------2500
Jim----------------------------28102 rowed in 4 sittings

Have a great day , stay safe, enjoy the day.
jim

[brotherjim]

Good morning,hope everyone is doing fine. TimbukTOO is moving along nicely. We rowed 100831 meters yesterday. It is always nice to go over that 100K mark. Great rowing team!
Milestones to cheer on,
Casey-350K, John-2 mill, Chuck--200K, Yisroel- 500K

Stats for 8/20

Alison----------------3000
Matthew------------5000
Ted------------------2999
Stu------------------5000
Chuck--------------5000
Andrew------------4975
Britt----------------10000
Casey---------------10000
Karen---------------10723
Yisroel--------------11379
Ashlee---------------1550
Kaylee---------------1800
Dalton----------------2005
Tristan---------------2600
Jim-------------------24800

Please take care of yourselves, row for your good health, and have a great day.
jim

[brotherjim]

Happy Sunday to team TimbukTOO. Congrats to Steven for passing 450K and 500K season meters We had a huge day rowing 165837 meters! Have a great day , row safely, and take care of yourselves.

Stats for 8/21

Steven-----------------84901
John--------------------31774 almost at 2 mill
Joseph------------------7779 almost at 650K
Fred---------------------6019
Matthew----------------5000
Denise-------------------3014
Tristan------------------ 1850
Jim-----------------------25500

Go TimbukTOO
jim

[brotherjim]

Good Monday morning, I hope this is the start of a great week for you. We had another great day yesterday rowing 130557 meters.
Congrats are in order for John- 2 million, Joseph-650K, and Yisroel- 500K (cool half mill) Way to row guys!!!
Dog days challenge is in the last week. Good luck to those who are participating.

Stats for 8/22

Fred---------------7510
Joseph------------11148
Matthew----------5000
Yisroel------------17208
John---------------26692 half marathon plus
Denise-------------4155
Ashlee-------------1555
Kaylee-------------1610
Dalton-------------3670
Tristan------------2009
Jim-----------------50000 completed in several sittings watching different preseason football games

Have a great day, great week, row safely, and row for your good health.
jim