Antarctica Again - 2013/2014

Hi Everyone - 

Just noted the date of my last Antarctic post - 18th December 2012 - almost a year to the day - not that anything much has happened the past 363 days.

My UN missions this year were to Lebanon, Israel, West Bank and Jordan before I pulled the pin late August on that work and returned to Brisbane for two weeks before flying to Hobart mid September to join the AAD and prepare for another season south.

I have stepped sideways from being a Radio Trainer with the UN to now being a Driver Trainer / Communications Trainer, with the odd requirement to install satellite tracking systems and satphones into UN vehicles. 

I spent 3 weeks in Beirut installing vehicles from Syria with the tracking system and adding satphones to their vehicles.  This was in support to the UN’s involvement in the Syrian conflict.  We were not allowed entry into Syria so two armoured vehicles were driven daily from Damascus to Beirut for us to install the necessary equipment.

Attaching the tracking system wiring to the vehicles ignition wires.
[6 stories below in the 'dungeon'].

We were conducting Driver Training in the ski fields of Beirut.

It was my first time to each of those four countries so was interesting to see the culture and landscape.  While in Jericho we were taken to Hisham's Palace  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisham's_Palace which as you could imagine was a pretty amazing experience.

Hisham's Palace window.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hishams_Palace_window_Author_MDarter.jpg

Also whilst I was in Jericho, I managed a dip in the Dead Sea, which was an unusual feeling of just floating around without having to tread water.  It was strongly advised to float on your back and not on your stomach due to the salt contact and possible heart issues.

Strange feeling floating around on your back. 

I was told the mud would help my hair grow … true Hiba!! :))

Didn't stop for a beer, but as it says, its 418 metres below sea level.

I accidently tasted the water when I flicked water out of my beard and a drop landed in my mouth – arghhh it was horrid!!

'Safe Dead Sea Bathing' rules.

I was impressed with the young male lifeguard who had a .45 in the waistband of his shorts!   It was on the Israel and Palestine border I guess, but I did wonder if they shot those drowning so as not to have to enter the water. [Joking].

Before sailing from Hobart to Antarctica though, I thought it best to fly my daughter, Jasmine, from Canberra, her brother, Jamie, from Brisbane, and my two younger sons, Sam and Brian from Perth all to Melbourne to meet up with me for the weekend. 

Sam, Jamie, Lesley, Jasmine, Brian

It was great to catch up with them all again as it had been awhile since the five of us had been together in one place.   We had a few drinks, a couple of meals, attended my wedding, a trip up to Vic Markets and then maybe another round of drinks.  It was only a short get together, as we all arrived in Melbourne on the Friday afternoon and departed on the Sunday. 

Oh, and I mentioned ‘wedding’ – 12^th October 2013.   Lesley and I met while down south, and she is a chef by trade and this season is wintering [12 months] at Davis while I’m doing the summer. [4 months].  We were together last season at Davis, and in fact I now call Brisbane home where we now reside [well she actually lives there, I store my meager belongings in a storage shed nearby]. 

We flew Lesley's Mum, Maureen, down from Brisbane while also a good friend of ours, Bill [Station Leader last season at Davis and this season] and his wife Christine also attended.

Lesley and I.

Lesley's Mum, Maureen.

and again, the two of us.

Gotta say …. she's looking good!!

We had spoke about where our relationship was heading and thought of marrying sometime next year, as she was not going to return to Antarctica.   Anyhow she was asked by the Australian Antarctic Division to summer/winter this season.  Thus we had to change our plans.  So instead of waiting until her return [end of 2014], we married three days before we sailed south.   Honeymoon onboard the Aurora Australia [P&O cruise you could say] at no cost [in fact a paid honeymoon - doesn't get much better than that huh]!!.

So on the 15th October 2013, some 80-odd Antarctic expeditioners boarded and sailed from Hobart for Davis. 

Boarding the Aurora Australis.

Sailing down the Derwent River, Tasmania.
[Me in the foreground speaking with Brian].

And it was a tad bouncy at times .. swell was up around 8 metres.

The voyage was expected to take approximately 12 days and cover nearly 5000 kilometres.  In fact the journey took 23 days as we were delayed and challenged by thick pack ice whilst still a long way from Davis.

And also a tad frozen.

From the very outset we knew this trip was going to be special as within hours of departure we experienced bad weather, which lasted about five days.  Many of the expeditioners were laid up with seasickness during this time.

For many, this was their first trip south and they had not experienced shipboard life before.  Although the Aurora Australis is a P&O ship it definitely is not a cruise ship. We are expected to assist with basic duties on the ship and also continue with their Antarctic training.  

The training consists of compass and GPS knowledge, map reading, knot tying, search and rescue principles, some first aid and also radio communications.  I was asked to deliver the radio training again this voyage to 70 expeditioners, which is good as it allows everyone to have received the training before arriving at Davis and having an understanding of the required procedures when using the radio for the first time.  Of course I am required to provide follow up training, however conducting the training whilst on the way down is an added bonus.

Another day, another class.

Despite the work and training workload there was ample time to enjoy the sights nature had on offer whilst standing on the decks.  Which includes the taking of the mandatory 'Voyage Photo'.

Where's Wally?? Not too difficult to find me!!

This group of expeditioners bonded quickly and set about creating a social environment, which everyone enjoyed, these activities included photo competitions, lectures, games, quiz nights and a highly enjoyable BBQ on the trawl deck once the ship made it to the pack ice.

The ice was the thickest it has been for years.  In fact it had been predicted as satellite images had shown the density and vastness of the ice.  The ship went around in circles, backwards and forwards and on some occasions only moving a couple of nautical miles in a day.  We even had to make several detours due to large icebergs being directly in front of us.

An extremely large iceberg in front of us.  We pushed towards the left of the berg.
It was enormous, possible 30km long [as shown on the radar image].

Open water was usually around some of the bergs which made for a quick and easy transit.

Sunset whilst pushing through the pack ice.

Captain Eccles.

Nice clouds.

Tween decks. 

Reasons why I continue enjoying coming south - the solitude ...

the peace and the patterns ….

the light and shadows ….

Really no comments for the above pics - they speak for themselves .
[Though Hiba may have something to say about me being in one of them!!].

Eventually we arrived Davis and commenced the resupply and changeover of wintering crew.

Home!! Four months for me, 13 for Lesley.

Will leave the story there for now – plenty more has happened since our arrival, including a serious Search and Rescue when one of our helicopters crashed while on a trip, my visit to Gardners Island to see the Adelie penguins, and a host more pics of the trip south and the wildlife encountered.

More of that next blog – oh okay GVLP one for you guys waiting for the penguins …

Quack Quack!!

Regards - Mick

PS: Thanks to Bill & Ana and to Ryan for keeping Mum …. made things a lot easier for me !!

Another Antarctic Summer - 2012/2013

Hi All,

Well here I am again with a return to Antarctica.  This time I am working at Davis Station as one of three Communications Operators in support of radio communications requirements for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, science support and other duties.

But as with last season when I was at Casey, before any journey south, I had to complete my FITTEST mission.  During 2012, I had spent approximately six months in Mali providing Telecommunications support, again as a radio trainer, training selected UN staff employed as radio operators.  Apart from the radio operators I also provided radio training to UN drivers and other staff required to operate radios on UN radio networks.

Anyhow I departed Mali and returned to Dubai where the FITTEST office is and finalised all my paperwork before returning to Australia.  Once again Emirates were very kind to me as the following pictures show (Ryan what can I say dude!!  The Dom was 'First Class' - enough of rubbing that into one or two mates in Dubai).

EK Ticket - Upgraded (Again)

EK Seat - Not too shabby

EK Entree

EK Main

I spent some time up in Brisbane visiting Jamie, Colleen and Charlee.  Charlee is my third grand daughter, with my daughter Jasmine and her partner Nick having two daughters, Savannah and Jessica.  It was an enjoyable time seeing them and whipping Jamie's butt in table tennis again!

Flew down to Hobart a week prior to my start date with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) as I had to see my old local GP and Dentist prior to commencing work.  One tooth less later and a wee bit of day surgery, my friend and I headed to a tourist location in Tasmania known as Port Arthur which is located on the Tasman Peninsula.  I took Lesley (The summering chef this season at Davis) with me whom I met late in the season at Casey and there we spent three days visiting the various Tasman Peninsula tourist attractions as well as the convict ruins.

Port Arthur - Convict Ruins.

Port Arthur - Church for families of the non prisoner types.

Port Arthur - Views 

Inside the prisoners church - note the way each cubicle
has been set out so that prisoners could not see who
was next to them and that it was standing room only.

Inside the Commandants house.

Convict hospital.

Preaching to no-one in particular.

We stayed at a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) only a few minutes drive from the convict ruins of Port Arthur.  The residence is known as Norfolk Bay Convict Station and was extremely comfortable with fantastic hosts, Lorella & Linton, and I would highly recommend people to stay there when visiting Tasmania and the Tasman Peninsula.  Take a look at the link - the Garden Room was the one Lesley and I used for our stay, and again, very comfortable and affordable.

Norfolk Bay Convict Station

Relaxing at the B&B.

Views of Norfolk Bay 

Other attractions around the Port Arthur local area consisted of the Tessellated Pavement, Devils Kitchen and a coast walk to Waterfall Bay.

Tessellated Pavement.

Devils Kitchen.

Lesley enjoying the views of the coast walk to Waterfall Bay.

Me enjoying the views.

Coastal features of Tasman Peninsula.

Anyhow that was a three day stay on the Tasman Peninsula.

The following Monday I started work at the AAD and it wasn't long before it became apparent the Aurora Australis was going to be delayed in the ice upon their return to Hobart after conducting research in Antarctic waters.

So not to miss out on an opportunity to show Lesley as many tourist attractions Tasmania has to offer the wintering chef, Rocket, invited us to Coles Bay on the East coast of Tasmania and stay at his place for the weekend.  Whilst there we met Billy, the female FTO for Davis this season and her partner.   A few quiet beers and wines were spent around Rockets outdoor BBQ with an open fire on the Saturday night.

Next day we had a walk to Wineglass Bay which is one of Tasmania's favourite tourist destinations.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the walk takes approximately 3 hours.  I remember when I did the walk with my family in the early 80's I carried my daughter (thankfully she was all of four or five) on my shoulders the entire way.  These days Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife, as well as other organisations, have done a fabulous job of making these walks more accessible to most ages to undertake.

Lesley 'strolling' up the track.

View of Wineglass Bay from the lookout.

Another pic from the lookout.

On the beach at Wineglass Bay.

Lesley on the beach at Wineglass Bay.

One of the critters walkers may meet on the track - Wallaby.

Sadly that weekend had to come to an end and head back to Hobart.  The Aurora Australis had broken through the ice and was steaming back to Hobart on two engines.  Sadly though it was two weeks late due to being stationary in the ice.  This would have a flow on effect through the remainder of the season, but also for us travelling to Davis it meant that the sea ice around station would have begun to melt and not safe to allow foot travel to the closest island to allow trips to the Adelie Penguin colony.   If the ice is to break up and get blown out to sea then this would allow for us to use zodiacs to travel to the island.  We will see.

So if you have read this far into the blog no doubt you are waiting for an update of the voyage down and Davis Station itself.  Here are a few pics of what to expect in the next blog ...... oh but before I post those I did have a birthday in Hobart - number 54.  And have to say it was one of the best birthdays I have had for a long long time.

Thanks Lesley.

And now those pictures ....

Sailing down the Derwent River and heading under the Tasman Bridge
which links the eastern shore of Hobart to the city centre.

We're through (well almost but we did get under - sadly not
like the Lake Illawarra back in 1974) - Hobart City Council
closes the bridge to traffic when ships pass under the bridge
so as not to have a possible repeat of the tragedy in 1974.

We had to sail through open calm seas .... 

and open rough seas ....

to finally get to see these ... 

and these .... 

and finally these ...

Till the next blog .... wont be too far away ....