Arrived!

I made it to Antarctica!!!  Turns out it’s not THAT cold.

Flying in style and comfort on a C17

Actually, I’ve been here since Friday (so 4 days), but have been pretty busy, this and the lack of a laptop have prevented me from making an entry until now.  In fact, while the internet services are surprisingly good given the location, I’m having to write this in my room, then wait till I get to work before I’m able to post it.

McMurdo dorms

What’s McMurdo and Antarctica actually like?  For starters, the town (if you can call it that) is on a rocky island, one of the few down here, called Ross Island.   It’s a bit like a mining/drilling settlement in looks – like the pictures you see of communities in northern Alaska and Canada.  The views over the ice sheet are stunning though; my photography skills are not doing them any justice.  Even better for these views though is where I’m working.  The long duration balloon sight is out at one of the airfields on the Ross Ice Sheet called Williams Field.  From it we can see Mount Erebus, which is on Ross Island about 20km from McMurdo and Willy Field., as well as other islands – White and Black Islands being the closest.

Frisbee at work, Erebus in background

Mostly over the last few days I’ve been going to briefings and settling in.  But I have also managed some work – mainly cabling of the instrument, preparing the surfaces of random RF stuff … not the most exciting, but fine to be getting on with.  Other than that, I’ve been embarrassed by Americans when playing 4 a side football, not only am I shit but also horrendously unfit.  Tomorrow (or today … time differences, writing night before posting … gargh) I’m going on a trip to ice caves.  Exciting.  Though no idea what it’ll be like.

What ANITA looks like right now

More photos will come soon; they’re clearly much more interesting than the blog, I just haven’t taken too many yet.  Get ready for a load of photos of people in sunglasses and Big Reds (the huge parka) and fun physicsy instrument photos.  Bet you can hardly wait!  No penguins though.  None.  Bastards are too small for me to see when I don’t have my glasses on, which is always when outside.  I don’t want be sunblinded for the sake of a bird that cant even fly and turns out to be way smaller than I always thought they were.  If I do see one up close then obviously my opinion will change. (Best.  Birds.  Ever.  I’m sure.)

Edit .... no photos as yet - the upload is too hefty for the server here.

Edit edit ... photos now!