Preparing to Leave

The time has finally arrived where i have to start thinking about my packing properly. up to now it has only been half hearted. The Shack has been tied up at creek 3 for last few days taking on all our waste that has to leave Antarctica. While the vehicle ops have been driving backwards and forwards pulling laden sledges, and the Mechanics have been busy winterising all the vehicles, my last few days have been spent bouncing from one kitchen to another.

It has been a very eventful week, what with one thing and another. Sunday saw the first flight out, which meant 12 less mouths to feed. Monday and Tuesday was supposed to be a module move, but as the clock was ticking both modules were pulled out on the Monday and linked, which meant even less mouths to feed as all the workers were on the new site. Tuesday I was in the Laws Kitchen with Ant and had a few more people to feed as we had a Basler plane arrive, ready to take the second wave of workers who were leaving.

Wednesday  I was in the Drewry and the dinner was to be the last meal of the season, it was also the day the Plane left with a few more guys. So I made one more batch of bread, two more trays of shortbread and ended the day with a curry night for everyone. That evening Richard, the Meteorologist gave a power point presentation in the bar on the Ozone Hole and the science behind it, which was very Interesting. I then said my goodbyes and swapped details with the out going team members and went to bed. Their flight was at 2.30 am.

   

The Drewry Kitchen clean down 

Once cleaned it has to be battened down ready for being towed

to Halley VI for next season

Thursday Was a day of cleaning and the Drewry had to be scrubbed out and locked down, so myself and Pat had the great task of emptying all fridges and freezers and taking the contents back over to the laws, then taking all equipment apart and giving it a good clean. The evening was spent on a guided tour of Halley VI and a walk through of all modules now connected. This was amazing and will be great for the science.

 Carl driving us out to Halley VI in the snow cat

Hally V as we leave, the sun is setting and the night is starting to appear.

As we approach Halley VI the moon is over the modules.

 All modules in a line, a great sight with the sun setting in the background

 Side on view

Carl taking a photo, behind him is the Hinge zone, where the sea Ice is attached to the Ice shelf.

 Carl standing on the link bridge, connecting the Red module to the Blue

 Karl Tuplin, the project Manager (In yellow) taking the tour

The link bridge

View from the stairway of the red module, looking into the accommodation section

Standing in the Red module looking out the window

Great views

In the Gym with a domed window so you can see the night sky and the aurora taking place.

 The New Base Camp from the air

 All 8 modules

finishing touches to the line.

All photos from the air were taken from a Twin otter.

 After the tour we got back into the snow cat and headed back to Halley V. We had 9 people in the back while Carl drove I navigated in the front seat. Once back on base carl had to fill the Cat with fuel before returning it to the garage

Nearly full, this was at midnight and you can now see the night setting in.

 Once in the Garage we find Steve hard at work with Brett servicing another Sno-cat

Steve is on the night shift and had not been long at work, when he got a call to say that a field Ski-doo had broken down. This was one that Ant the chef was driving to visit Halley VI. As if Steve didn't have enough work to do, he now has to replace the engine in the Ski-doo. This is on top of all the servicing, repairing a Bulldozer and a John Deer that has broken and get all machines winterised before he can leave. This is the reason for him being on nights. He will actually be the last of the summer team to leave. Which means he will have to turn the lights off and lock up.
Steve is going out on the JCR Ship which is a few days after the Shack...

Not long to wait now Jane, He'll be home soon.

This is the Shackleton and the JCR at creek 3 together last year.

 Another amazing sight was to see the Skiway which had 3 basler planes on it. These planes had been coming in and taking off over the last couple of days, one took our guys away and returned the other two are doing Glacier science, they all stop over to refuel and for the crew to get food and a bed for the night, It was quite a hive of activity, and the pilots are really interesting to talk to.

Steve Kindly lent his field Ski-doo to Carl and myself to wizz down to the Skiway to have a look at them before they departed, so with camera ready and holding on tight, off we went, and boy is that ski-doo fast......It was Freezing, but well worth the visit.

3 Baslers all together a very impressive sight on the Ice Runway

 A great looking plane.. this one is for my mate Kev Pearson back home who was a chef in the RAF and  the DC3 is his favourite plane..

Another good shot.

Friday, and I have the morning off, I start work at 3pm. Both myself and pat will be doing the last Fish supper In the Laws, while Ant and Chris are both going down to the Shack with the incoming winterers for a night on board, Invited by the Captain for a meal before they start their winter season.

When they come back to base tomorrow morning (Saturday) We will be taken with our belongings to the ship ready to start the Journey home.

I am now packed fully, and waiting for the off, just 35 minutes before i start work for the last time here at Halley. My appraisal went well and i feel quietly confident that I will be back for another season, fingers crossed.
I will update on the Journey home and my time on the Shackleton, that is if i am not too seasick through Drakes Passage.

See you all soon.

The Last week

Today is Saturday, and I have enjoyed a much needed day off. This was because the last week has been very busy with the Module moves to the new site, the Shackleton Ship mooring at creek 3 with relief for the wintering team and the first flight leaving with 12 of the Morrisons crew.

My usual day off, Thursday was spent working with the chef at Halley VI, this is Stewart, otherwise known as Shaggy. My help was needed because with the modules being moved, there were more mouths to feed at the new site. So with an early morning start and an off base form completed I jumped into a challenger with Pete and off we went, towing a large container with Morrison construction workers packed in the back like refugees.

It was a busy day but enjoyable as i not only got to see the modules positioned in their new home, but also managed to get inside for a sneak preview. This was all between cooking and cleaning.

The day went very quickly and I was soon back on base at Halley V, only to find that I would be going back to Halley VI the next day again to assist Shaggy.

The chefs back at Halley V were still busy but had less numbers to cater for due to most of the work force being at Halley VI. The biggest job for the team back at base was to get all the waste from camp and onto the Shackleton, most of that is now completed and with Folk night out of the way ( and a great night was had by all) the main focus is on getting the last 2 modules moved over to Halley VI and connected. which if the last move is anything to go by, will be smooth and efficient and will be done by Wednesday.

With the first flight now gone and the second away on wednesday I have been told that I will be boarding next Saturday, although if everything goes well we could be boarding early. My bags are packed and i am ready to go at a moments notice.

With everything now happening so fast I am trying to take in the sheer magnitude and beauty that this hostile environment is still showing me

And as we come to the end of the summer season and are just boardering the winter, the changes that we are experiencing are indeed breathtaking. The setting of the sun each night, the moon has started to appear, the temperatures are dropping fast the colours of the sky are incredible.

Enjoy the following Pictures..

The new Halley VI site with the 6th module being positioned for linking

An amazing sky over Halley VI with the sun breaking through the cloud

 This is Shaggy with the containers behind him that house the accommodation for the workers, and the tents for the dining area and kitchen that we have to work out of. Shaggy is digging to reveal the door to the freezer. Which is dug into the Ice.

 The freezer door opened showing the steps down.

Shaggy in the freezer, the temperature is approx -15 degrees in there at the moment

John and Miami working on the joints to the link bridge


The view from the kitchen container of the crane lifting the link bridge into position

The link bridge being dropped into place between the two blue energy modules.

Adelie Penguins out and about by the Modules

Folk Night at Halley. this was a great night and enjoyed by all, we have a lot of very talented people on base, the whole evening was compared by Andy Dixon, who did a fantastic job by keeping order, telling gags and singing (amazing voice). the picture shows Nige and crew, doing a rendition of  "Right said Fred" but with his own lyrics. It was very funny. Nige then went on to appear in a couple of spoof videos. He is a real Antarctic Hero and good fun to be around.

The sun setting on a blue module that is ready to be towed to Halley VI.

This was the sun setting as we walked to Folk night at 8.15 pm. it was spectacular with the cherry pickers silhouetted

 The new moon over the communications dome

The same moon from the Drewry

Another coloured sky over the drewry, awesome.

The sun setting behind the new modules

And again behind the Red Module.

 A red sunset over Halley VI

 The new moon resting on top of a steel tower

And Hanging from the chains of a mantis crane.

 And finally the big red taxi is here and waiting for me to board. Just one more week to enjoy the solitude, the clean air, the vast expanse, the silence, the cold and the beauty of this frozen continent.

Countdown

Well, the big red Module was moved today, and it all went without a hitch according to the conversations overheard on the radio. We got the word that it was about to pulled into position so both myself and Ant the chef I am working with today, grabbed our cameras and ran outside to watch. We stayed there for a while but had to get back into the kitchen to finish off morning Smoko. We could see the Challengers and John deers towing the Module from the kitchen window as we worked. It was very impressive.

What was also impressive was the the fact that we could see all the other modules 16 km away in a line and upside down. this was due to the day being so clear that the modules had been elevated high in the air as a mirage and was suspended upside down as a mirror image. We often see this with the ice cliffs on the coast, but to actually see the modules was a real treat.

While the Modules were being moved and we were busy getting lunch ready, Matt the base commander came into the kitchen to tell us that the Shackleton Ship Had come into Creek 3 and was tying up a few days early.

This means that we may be leaving early and so need to start preparing to leave.

So the format now will be: Folk night this Friday, Saturday becomes our Sunday with everyone off, Sunday will be a working day as the first flight leaves Halley, the Drewry needs to be cleaned and locked down, and who knows when we are to board the Shack to leave. Word on the street is that it will be early, we certainly need to be packed and ready to go at a moments notice.... Watch this space anything can happen ....

A couple of things that have happened in the last few of days.

One was the Halley Marathon, which was held to raise money for charity. This was a very successful event with a lot of the guys on base taking part. We had great weather temperatures were around -7 degrees, the sun was shining and the track had been well groomed and had chilled nicely during the night making conditions favourable for the runners.

Here are a few pics of the day, taken by Chris Walton the Wintering chef, who went round the course on skis in the opposite direction to get his pictures. I was working, as all the other chefs were either running or marshals for the event.

I think I should get a medal for feeding the masses on this day.

 The start of the Marathon

 Limbering up

 Not a bad start to a race

 Signing in and all in good spirits

Mark and Simon arriving on skis ready to ski the course

 Matt our Base Commander and a seasoned marathon runner on Ice and rough terrain

A real Antarctic Hero

 And their off

 A good start by all

 Oozing confidence and still in a pack

 It's not long before Matt pulls away from the rest of the field

 On his heels is Carl the Chippie

 Ant Last seasons wintering Chef looking Comfortable

At the moment.

 Pack getting thinner

 We wanna be together..

 Ian Having fun.. This guy is doing the Mongol Rally, with 3 other guys from Halley. They call themselves Halley's Comics, and are driving from England to Mongolia for Charity

 in July 2011

 Mappo the Wintering Base Commander

 Duncan Enjoying his Ski-ing

 Matt well ahead now and looking very relaxed

 Another action shot of our Base Commander passing the modules in the background

 John and Craig with their stall set out to give much needed water to the runners.

 From left to right, Andy (meteorologist) Jenny (Wintering Doc), Richard (Meteorologist)

 Frivolities along the way with Andy starting to feel the burn

John giving Andy refreshment and encouragement 

 The long distant runners, in the distance.

Shaggy, Halley VI chef, with his trainer on a ski-doo.

All but one, Completed the full 8 and a half laps of the perimeter, but all were walking like penguins the following morning and most are still broken even now. 

Needless to say Matt the base commander finished first and did it in under 3.5 hours, beating his Falklands Marathon record.

The other thing to take place was our summer team photo, with all on base being in the picture.

Her we are all pulling the red module. It's easy to spot me, I'm 5th line from the left, 5th line from the right and 5th man down the line....

We also took a separate picture of the summer team that lived in the Drewry. 

Inset are the 2  RAF  guys thet worked on our communications for a couple of months. Left to right, Warren and Paddy.

So that was the week that was, all systems are now go to get us ready to leave. I will try and update this blog before i go with a little more info. Until then I have to get back to doing the Dinner, we have Roast Lamb tonight... Catch you all later....