Berg crusing, and Christmas feasts...

Well it has been that time of year for us down here too.  Things go mad for a little while (over things unrelated to Christmas), then we try and relax and have a good time, eat heaps, and exercise little.

Resupply went like a dream compared to how it normally pans out - at least that is what I'm told.  It was pretty hyped up and I'd wondered for a while what we were in for.  It's a fairly time consuming process.  Starting with fuel, the line is layed out across the water and to the tank farms on land.  The line pressure tested, checks completed and fuel then starts to flow.  For about twenty hours straight fuel is pumped from the ship, while the fuel watchers swing valves and do their periodic walks up and down the line.  In the harbour there are a number of IRB's (inflatable rubber boat's - basically the same as the one we have at home) nudging small icebergs clear of the line, and ensuring there's no stress put on the pipe.  Fuel is then followed by cargo, some containerised, some on pallets, some odd loads such as a small excavator, machinery parts etc.  I spent the best part of my time driving the Skidder and the Loader.

As there was a bit of a lull in activities, a few of us shot off for a cruise about the bergs... 

 No matter how many penguins I place on my blog, I'm still asked for more.

Simon and Brad, merry... on Christmas day.

We found this interesting looking thing floating on the surface.  I picked it up to try and work out what it was.  Our best guess was that it might be a colony of some type of creature.  The slimy outer encased small white things the size of a mustard seed, presumably eggs.  I couldn't tell what it was by tasting it - only that it had come from the sea.

Stu was a good sport when I wrapped it about his neck.  We smelt it all the way home. 

Christmas Day

We actually celebrated Christmas a few days later than the 25th - as resupply needed to be sorted before other things could begin. The chefs started early with a small gang us plebs helping out, or at least doing our best to help.  I was assigned the job of folding salmon into small rose like bundles then spreading them out on serving trays.  There was certainly no shortage of food.  The happenings started at 11 with brunch, followed by carols and gift giving from 12 till early afternoon.  Dave filled the role of Santa, and we each in turn had the chance to sit on his knew, and receive our gift.  Lunch, or whatever a mid afternoon meal becomes, started at 3 and carried on till late.  Ed's table became the happening place to be, as he sang songs from home in the way beer drinking Irish seem so able.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable party.  I learnt in the morning I'd piked a tad too early.  I'd let it get down to what I thought were the last dwindling few then headed for the blankets, in the morning I had to regret not having been their for the table surfing.  From one end of the room to the other tables were lined up, lubricated, shirts torn off and then run from the end of the mess and jump...  There were bruises to prove it.

I must give credit to Tim B for some photos of the berg photos.  The little point and shoot I have just doesn't cut it from any distance.  The good photos are his.  Thanks Timmy.

Shirley Island take two, and gearing up for re-supply

Dear All

Thanks for taking an interest in what I'm up to down south.  It's been encouraging to know people back home have been watching the blog for updates, and intrigued as to what I'm filling my days with.

Shirley Island, which I wrote briefly about once before, is a small island about a half hours walk from Casey Station.  I'd visited early on when the Adeli penguins were forming their little nest mounds and had commenced laying.  The first of the chicks were sighted earlier this week, so I thought I'd head across again and see what I could find.  Below are a few photos taken from various spots about Shirley Island.  I did manage to see three small chicks, but only very briefly.  My small point and shoot camera didn't quite capture things.  I'll track down a shot that someone with a bit of zoom has managed to grab.

Probably the most beautiful sight, and again difficult to catch, were the swimming penguins.  The second short movie shows a bunch of penguins coming in to land.

The channel between the "mainland" and Shirley island is starting to reform, as more and more ice disappears out to see.  The width of the channel can be grasped in a way from the above photo, the creases in the snow/ice in the foreground is the near side.

Cheeky little critters.  They'll come to within a meter or so, just to take a closer look at you.

The Aurora is due in tonight at about six, so by the time I put this post up it should be here.  This means that the next week or so will be hectic.  The first priority is unloading the fuel.  This will take about twenty hours once the line is set-up, which I understand takes about eight hours in it's self to complete.  I'll be on shifts checking the line on the land, and changing valves in the fuel farm as things progress.  We will then move onto cargo being shifted on and off the ship.  I've been assigned two rolls during resupply.  The first is Beach Master - Ken will be teaching me the ropes, he's a guy who's done it all a number of times before.  The role involves checking all incoming cargo, and assigning it to a driver, and lay-down area.  I gather it means a lot of time spent just directing traffic and talking over the radio.  Should be good fun.  My second roll will be driving a skidder with either the 20 foot or 40 foot container trailer.  A little daunting, but should be fine.  I did my best to spend some time in the beast during the week, so am confident I can get things right.

This picture is taken on the road leading down to the wharf - it's the rear end of a loader if you were wondering what else you were looking at.  You'll see the high sides either side of the machine, about eight meter high in some spots.  The road has been cut through the accumulation of snow down to the rock base beneath.  Over the coming summer months, much of this ice and snow will melt away.

Poor photo of the skidder i know, but I couldn't find it when I just went out to get a better pic of it.  Not sure how you can hide a machine like this, but down here I'm learning anything is possible.  I'm sure you get the idea if you weren't sure.

Anyway, until next time hope you have a merry Christmas, and happy new year.  Will blog again soon.

Wilkes

I'll keep my explanations breif, and allow the photos and the captions to tell the story of Wilkes and our overnighter spent there last week.  It was only a very short stop over, as we left Casey after work on Thursday, and were back in time for an eight am start on Friday.  If you're interested in a brief history of the place, check it out on Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes_Station.

Wilkes is an abandoned US station only about 1/2 hr quad ride from Casey

The veiw of Casey Station - looking back towards to west on the way to Wilkes.

Beautifully basic.

Inside the Wilkes Hilton.  It's one of the most roomy huts about Casey.  Basically one big room, fire in the middle, bunks on either side, and a basic kitchen at the far end.  Great for a weekend get-away.

Some of the junk left behind by the Yanks.  Curry powder looking good, the cold keeps it looking good.  The story goes that the waste from Wilkes was simply pushed onto the sea ice in the winter and let foat out to sea as the ice breakes up and disperses in the thawing summer months.  It's said that the bottom of the bay is littered with tonnes of rubbish accumulated over the time Wiles was operational.  The above photo shows top of the main living quarters and other buildings - buried almost in their entirety. 

Photo of the same area in 1957 (soursed from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes_Station).  I suspect this is looking in almost the opposite direction to the last of my pics above.

This little fella approached us.  He came within about a meter and a half. 

We hung about with him for a while, as he checked us out.

Drifting by...

Wonderful lines left by years of wind and snow.  There are plenty of examples of this about Wilkes in the abandoned oregon cladding boards, it would have been good to gather some up and create a little something.