From the desk of Polly Penguin

To King Ullr Ross Strauser and Queen of the Snows Sue Strauser,

I am humbled by your concern about my journey to Antarctica. Before my depar-ture I acquired all necessary vaccinations and visas, obtained a supply of sun tan lo-tion to use as I cross the Equator, and packed a bag of dried and smoked whitefish.

My happy feet are tapping their way south to warmer climes. So far my land route is direct, following the Rocky Mountain chain all the way to Mexico, leaving the North America continent at Acapulco to spend the majority of my travel time swim-ming in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

I’m now enjoying a long layover in the Galapagos Islands, a welcome respite and chance to refuel ... imagine, fresh fish! I’m basking in the sun, and have made friends with the blue-footed boobys that live here. You should see me dancing with one of them (Bill Booty) who struts to show off his feet that are really blue! Bill has taken a fancy to me and shares his anchovies ... yum! The females use their webbed feet to cover their young to keep them warm, similar to the way we penguins nest our eggs and young hatchlings.

I tell tales of my many years in the beautiful Flathead Valley and of the humanoids who mimic our penguin ways at the Carnival’s Penguin Plunge.

Polly Penguin is Kay Knapton, Queen of Snows II (1961). She is currently traveling to Antarctica.