100%

A huge congratulations goes to the MIPEP crew. As of (about) 5pm yesterday they completed the first bait drop. 100% of the Island has been covered. It's a little better than the 8% achieved last year. They were lucky to reach the milestone so early as we've had high winds and showers on all but two days over the past week and a half, making conditions for the helicopters rather untenable. Of course, this morning there were more than a few sore heads.

In other news, hopefully I'll be doing the second part of field training next week. For the moment, take a look at some of the things happening around station this week.

Sunrise to the North East from outside the Met building

Looking at the plateau at sunrise. That's the science building with all the lights on.

I'm still learning how to take photos in low light, if anyone has any pointers then let me know.

Today it snowed and hailed.

Field Training (part 1)

As part of the induction process... no, there's a better term for that. Hmm, nup, can't think of it. Continuing: for two reasons, we have to complete field training as close to first arriving on station as is possible. 1. To be allowed out into the field and wander over Macca (sticking to the paths of course, it's a national park after all). 2. To go get people if there's a need for a SAR (search and rescue).

Due to the number of people on station, we're all being trained on either "on track" or "cross-country" depending on the role of the individual and which trainers are available at the time. Currently our Field Training Officers (FTOs) are Jamie the doctor, Helen the ranger boss and Luke, a former ranger boss (here as part of MIPEP). If something comes up in their respective job then there's nothing anyone else can do about it but sit on their arse and wait.

That being said, I was lucky enough to have time go into the field for a night on Monday and follow a few of the tracks with Jamie and a few of the other MIPEP crew. Where we went for lovely trundle through cold, wet, marshy bog and stayed the night at the Bauer Bay Links Hotel, a quaint 4 bed room with a kitchen gas cooktop and oven, table and a whole heap of food. Now with extra special little green pellet treats for the rats and mice ;) Lucky for us there were 6 people that needed to find sleeping space in the hut.

Inside Bauer Bay Hut. L to R: Lawrence, Harpo and Jamie

L to R: Keith B, Steve (back), Harpo (front) and Jamie

Bauer Bay Links Hotel

Bauer Bay

From Bauer Bay we traipsed across what is known as featherbed, up over the plateau and across to Brothers Point. Featherbed is this marshy grassland that looks only slightly boggy to walk on, but when you take a few steps and it feels like 1/2 to 1 meter of ground below has sprung downwards under your weight, you know breaking through will not be a pretty sight (or smell). Can you imagine the smell of thousands of years of peat bog build up suddenly breaking through the surface??

Mooching across the Plateau

The Googie hut at Brothers Point

 From Brothers Point, after a substantial meal of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups mixed together and a side of baked beans, we had a nice jaunt back to station and only spent about an hour in the dark. Honestly, as tired and sweaty as I was by the end, it was an amazing little trip.

Sandy Bay, looking from Brothers Point Hut to The Nuggets

March of the Penguins

Put your best, most creative caption for this photo in a comment. Best one doesn't win a thing!

Take a look at the weekly station news, I'm in there waaaaay too much this time around.

Part 2 will be posted after I've done it.

See ya :)

We're all alone now...

The Aurora left last Monday (May 3rd for those playing at home) to a fanfare for old flares lit up the early evening sky. This is it, the crew of 39 we have now will be stuck with each other for at least the next 2 months - hope we end up getting on well.

Farewell, Aurora Australis. We might miss you...

A few more photos for your perusal:

The elephant seals like to say hello.

SOOOOOOO CUUUUUUTE!!!

If you follow this link you'll be taken to the official weekly station news. Now, pay close attention or you may miss the weird looking bearded guy with the orange beanie....

2 Weeks

I've been on Macca for two whole weeks now, that's all. There's been so much going on that it feels like two months. Change over fairly smooth although there were days when no operations could be completed due to weather, which left people who were then going to spend the next few months (or up to a year) on the ship.

During the final stages of the resupply I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to spend some time on the water in an IRB as part of the station refuelling process. This involves running a hose, 1Km long, 3in wide from the ship to the shore and the IRB's are used to place sea anchors at the joints allowing the Aurora to move around in the wind without twisting the hose. They were able to pump 240 000L of diesel within around 6 hrs.

I'm yet to have the opportunity to go off station limits, which won't happen until I complete my field training. I have, however, been running around and taking photos of everything.

On ANZAC Day a sea lion decided to visit us and harass the elephant seals

A fur seal playing king of the castle

This is a typical day at Macca, the wind was probably between 20-25kts

Hurry up and wait

On day three of the voyage a small shape appeared on RADAR. The drizzle and rains were closing in and there was a buzz getting around the ship, ETA was for 11am. People were getting their bags ready for the first groups to be sent ashore, bellies were starting to rumble as lunch time came rolling around, but there! Right in front of the bloody ship, out of a low lying cloud and showery rain (possibly snow), comes this hazy land mass.

Ian, the Communications Technician remarked "ah yes, that's Macca, just like the last time I was here" and the man in charge of the station re-fuelling team said "yep, just like I left it."

The Nuggets

 After the initial excitement, at around 3pm, the announcement was made to stand down for the day. The swell was said to be too big and wind too strong, we'll return to the bay in the morning and see what that brings. The unofficial motto was alive and well - *sigh* - back to food, movies and card games (mostly 500).

The Southern Ocean

Sunset, day 2

Surprisingly the Southern Ocean was rather calm for the 3 day trip, there was a bit of rolling and not all that much rocking, but plenty of eating and a movie or two. Actually, there's not a huge amount to do on the ship - although some work does get done. Observations are done around the clock, every 3 hours, and someone has to be awake at 2am and 5am.

We had a few albatross following the ship and they are magnificent birds. Gracefully gliding above the water, one or two flaps of their wings here and there, generally taking life very easily.

On the other hand, sometimes birds are blown completely off course and shouldn't be in the middle of the ocean.

These are apparently called Egrets, they were hanging around towards the end of the second day