The next installment in my backlog of posts covers two days ago, when we finally deployed to the ice. After returning from Akaroa, we were a bit surprised to find that we were scheduled to fly out the next day. Previously there had been a group that was always trying (unsuccessfully) to fly out the day before us. But the groups were merged and we had a very crowded Airbus flight down to the ice.
We got up at 4am to make it to the airport in time, and arrived in McMurdo in the early afternoon. Upon arrival we sat through a collection of orientation sessions that contained more information than I could process at the time. But we managed to get our rooms (not without complication, there were many mix-ups), get linens, get bags, and start—overwhelmedly—to settle in. Plus, many of us had our checked bags, except boomerang bag, never leave Christchurch. So, we got to live out of bags packed for an extra day in New Zealand, which turns out to not necessarily be suitable for Antarctica.
Oh, and Antarctica is really cool!
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- After changing into ECW clothes and rearranging our bags, it’s time to line up for check-in
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- Juan and Elio in line
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- Me and Elio, now with boarding passes around our necks
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- Annamarie and Stef waiting outside
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- The ride to the plane gets four thumbs up (only about 1.9 visible)
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- The plane I’m a bit sad we didn’t take
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- Boarding the plane we did take
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- After a few hours, and some clouds, ice is seen out the window
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- And after a little while longer, there’s land too
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- My view was partially obstructed by Juan, as he had the window seat
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- More ice, in the bay. Cool looking
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- Sighting of McMurdo, during landing on the ice runway
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- For the short hop into town, we’re met by Ivan the Terra Bus
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- On the bus, crammed together wearing huge parkas (they’re really great)
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- McMurdo sign, we have officially arrived!
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- Walking to the blue building, aka “155”, aka “The Galley” (though strictly that only refers to part of the building)
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- Annamarie has fun being eskimo-like
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- Random picture of random things in McMurdo
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- Picture Juan took of Elio and I during our initial exploration
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