90° South

Today is Thanksgiving at the pole. The main part is the Thanksgiving Dinner. Or Breakfast for us on night shift. Due to the amount of people the dinner is divided into three seating's. Being on the night shift, I can use the last seating.
The Thanksgiving dinner started at 6:30 pm with appetizers and live music in the hallway outside the galley.

The dinner started at 7 pm with a very short speech by the station manager Bk. The whole atmosphere is a nice difference for every day. The table were set, table cloth and candles. The main part of the dinner the food was really good and an impressive variety, different kinds of turkey, stuffing, side dishes. The food itself was self service, but drinks were served by volunteers. I have to say, the kitchen staff and all the volunteers did a great job.

After dinner parties all around the station started or were in full ??? already from prior seating's. That said, parties started for most of us. Some had to work, me included.
Someone has to watch the IceCube drill site all the time. During the Holiday only two people work at the drill site ate a given time. It is their job to make everything keeps running.

posted at: 22:00 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Today is my first day off. This gives me some time to give a status update. I am sitting in my cold jamesway while writing this. Somebody before me must have noticed the problem with cold jamesway already an installed a fireplace. Unfortunately it does not spend a lot of heat.

For those of you who have been here, earlier this week we had the end of an era. The sign at the end of the dome entrance was removed. It just didn't look the same anymore.

As for work, we are still preparing for drilling. Most of my time I did electrical work. A main part was hooking up the high pressure pump motors.

posted at: 03:11 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

I am on 3rd shift. Yesterday, I went out to the drill site with the rest of my shift.My plan was to do a little bit of work with them to help getting used to the new sleeping pattern. At the end I stayed for the whole shift. I helped Chad Installing the HPP (Hight Pressure Pump) UNICOs (Motor controllers) which were stored in DNF (Do Not Freeze).

posted at: 11:47 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

the flight made it. No delays. We are at the South Pole. I got my room assignment and I am staying in the James-Way.

posted at: 12:00 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Bagdrag for the South Pole flight is at 1900h.

posted at: 07:00 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

after many delays we finally made it to McMurdo. Word is we are schedule to fly on Monday. But the Manifest is not posted yet.
Anyway, we had out briefings, dinner and the walk to Scott's hut.

posted at: 15:00 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

this time Saturday morning. Reporting time is again an early 6 am.

posted at: 18:25 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

at 4:44 am we were told the flight got called off again.

posted at: 04:44 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

By now, plenty of people are waiting to get south. I went to the CDC to get a few things out of my stored luggage and my laptop screened. And the posted Manifest had 91 passengers. A second manifest for the next day was posted too. Not all people currently around are on the first flight.
Anyway, we got notice, try it again at 6 am tomorrow morning.

posted at: 16:55 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Around 7 a during breakfast word went out there might be a light at 9 pm. CDC told the Windsor we should stand by between 10 and 11 am for the final decision.
The lounge was full of people waiting to get to the pole. And then at 10:40am the No Go came. Back to square one.

posted at: 10:40 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

You know what's coming. we got again another 24h delay. Another wonderful day in Christchurch.

posted at: 01:25 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

The next flight is scheduled and for whatever reason in the middle of the night. Reporting time is 3 am at CDC. What are they planning to do?

posted at: 17:30 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

I just got notice, we have another 24h flight delay. What is going on in McTown?
Anyway, I expected to fly today because it got colder here and I do not have the clothing for it as most stuff is checked for the flight south. So, yesterday I went and bought some warm pieces of clothing at the Salvation Army.

posted at: 05:25 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Now we are schedule again to fly. This time reporting time is 7 am tomorrow.

posted at: 16:25 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

I just got notice, of a 24h delay. The flight is canceled. OK, back to sleep.

posted at: 04:30 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

We got notice, we will fly tomorrow. Reporting time is 6 am. We, the folks waiting, were not if we would fly. We have second hand information that 3 MCM-NPX flights had to boomerang today.

posted at: 18:40 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Ready to go, the shuttle came at 6:45 am. CDC at 7:15 am, we got dressed, went through the check in. This was followed after some wait by the usual briefing.
Another wait followed by the security checkpoint. Take out the laptop and liquids in the clear plastic bag. Set of the metal detector and proceed to the bus.
After everybody is on the bus, drive across the street to the plane. By 9 am we were on the plane. Unfortunately, the weather in McMurdo is bad and we wait for the possibility for it to clear up.
Around 10:15 am the orders came in, the exercise is canceled without even leaving the ground. Everybody back on the bus, back to the CDC.
Anyway, I am back in the hotel in Christchurch.

posted at: 11:00 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

We got the notice from RPSC we will leave as scheduled. Reporting time is 0715. Which is a welcome change to past flights.
Hopefully the next entry will come from McTown.

posted at: 17:55 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

Today at 1 pm we had clothing issue. Quite a few things changed since last year. First, they have now the same 1 quart zip lock plastic bag for liquids rule as commercial flights. So, no toiletries in the Cary-On. That's a problem, if you pack that stuff in your checked bag and you Boomerang you wont get it back. But to the rescue comes the second change, the Boomerang Bag. That bag is for the toiletries and the change of clothing one usually carried in the Carry-On in case of a boomerang. And you will get it back if you boomerang. On the bright side, the clothing requirement for the flight changed. Slightly less stuff one has to carry. And the last change the food for the flight changed. Lets see how that works out.

posted at: 15:04 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

I just ran into Clair and Tim, just outside of the Arts Centre. We had some Coffee/Tea and caught up on stuff.

posted at: 11:55 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

I arrived in Christchurch and I am staying, again, at the Windsor. I am tired, but first I need something to eat. I'll meet PJ and Matt Dux. Both came on the same flight.

posted at: 12:15 | path: / | permanent link to this entry

• with a delayed flight out of SFO. I got re-booked on an earlier (which by itself was 2 hours delayed) flight. Otherwise I would have missed the connection out of LAX
• having to check in again at LAX
• having again 2 hours delay out of LAX. Apparently the fuel pump for the aft fuel tank was broken and they decided they can make up for it in the wing tanks. Unfortunately, the ground crew loaded the cargo according to trim charts for aft fuel tank usage. And they had to redistribute the cargo. I am glad they noticed this, I would not like to be on the flight which breaks Qantas's acclaim of fame
• having to check in again in Auckland, New Zealand
• arriving in Christchurch and noticing the luggage was opened and items are missing

posted at: 12:05 | path: / | permanent link to this entry