Somewhere in the universe a butterfly flapped it's wings and my flight to Santiago was delayed overnight. In chaos theory it's called the sensitive dependence on initial conditions and it describes how one simple change can have dramatic effects. Two nights later, I'm still not in Punta Arenas. One delay led to another, which then led to yet another.

Ah yes, the trials and tribulations of modern travel. Still, it could be worse. At least I have my bags. I once spent nearly a week in the heat of India without my luggage. I'm pretty comfortable right now too - stretched out in a Hilton compliments of American Airlines. In 2005, I waited for almost nine days in a very small tent off the coast of Siberia for a helicopter pick up. Nothing to do. Nothing to read. Nowhere to go. I wasn't at the end of my rope, but I could see it from there.

We are so used to things happening when we want them to and according to a specific schedule. Routine and reliable. Like clockwork. But here's the deal: Things always don't follow the plan. It's easy to get frustrated, but if there's one thing that expedition travel is taught me. Relax. Go with the flow. Find the positives. There are a lot of butterfly's out there flapping away. Who knows what will happen tomorrow...

When I got the news, I had a hard time telling Maria that I would be going to Antarctica and leading trips for Adventure Network International (ANI) again. She is very supportive and always offers her encouragement but the best Antarctic travel conditions are in November, December and January which means being gone for the holidays. No big deal - another freeze dried Christmas dinner to look forward to. But the thing is... I've kind of been in Antarctica for three of the past four years. Needless to say it's not an ideal situation for our relationship.

And it's not the first time I've left either. By the end of the year, I'll have spent six months of our relationship just in Antarctica alone. Two months on the Arctic Ocean. Two in Nepal. Two weeks on Denali; two weeks on Baffin Island... The list goes on but I'd better stop writing because, well, I think you know why.

I've never liked leaving. As much as there is the hope and excitement of a new adventure, there is uncertainty and loneliness as well. It's hard being away for so long. But Maria and I talk and email regularly (thank you satellite phone technology) so it's not nearly as bad as it sounds and we're pretty independent people, too which gives us both a chance to pursue our own interests.

Maria and I didn't talk much on the way to the airport. There was traffic and it was windy. We made jokes and discussed future travel plans. We know the routine and understand the risks. At the airport, a big hug and a kiss and then she drove away.

Image: The plane. The Plane.