It’s good to be home again. Flew in yesterday and had the little family greet me at the nearby Salina airport. (After I called to let them know I had landed!) They were sitting outside the tiny facility enjoying the nice temperature, and were just heading inside to check if I was on the little plane that landed.

Having 3 daughters (in 2 and 1/2 years) has always been thrilling, to say the least. We immediately settled into our typical routine of talking, laughing, and poking fun at each other. Kendra locked her keys in her car at the airport; Kelsey was the “good child” and wore a tee shirt sent to her from Antarctica. Kaysha, being the oldest and smartest stood hugging her mom!  We headed to a nearby restaurant and had a wonderful time catching up on the latest in their lives.  I noticed they made sure to ask if I had it ‘out of my system’ with no plans to return.  I assured them I would stay home.  (But made certain I didn’t use a time frame that I would stay home in!)

My time in Antarctica is over. All that is left are my memories and a few thousand photos!  I hope to do a few more ‘talks’ to groups and continue to encourage anyone who has the slightest desire to go.

… it already feels like a dream. I set my alarm this morning to attend my regular Kiwanis meeting. (Fly home on a Sunday afternoon – get up early on Monday morning and start the week!) Everyone is greeting and saying ‘welcome back’, yet I don’t feel like I’ve been gone.  Very strange feeling, because I can also stand in my house and turn circles, being unsure of what to do and where to go to do it.

Yes, my body is definitely out of whack. Must be something to do with having been to the bottom of the world. Only one cure possible.

 ….I must go to the TOP!!! (insert crazy moohahaaa laughter)  

Who wants to go with me?

Posted March 2, 2009 Comments(4)

I can’t believe my time here is over.  Although the WEATHER has drastically changed, so it’s time to get out before we’re stranded!  The ‘winter-overs’ are here. They would like us ‘summer people’ to go home so they can set up their dorm rooms and begin the winter season schedule!  I know how they feel, as we experience those same things when we pull into McMurdo in October.

Ship off load went very smooth again. All the millvans are stacked neatly in rows awaiting the supply people to come and inventory each box inside. I trained one of the supply gals to drive deltas (she will be one of the winter-overs who drive the last pax to the planes and then also pick up the first people flown in!) She LOVES opening the boxes!   …’might be a box of post-it notes, or weird, electrical wire, -you never know what you’ll find!’…    A lot of the winter workers are supply people. Or Vehicle Maintenance type people.

Last night we had a long power outage. I’m not sure what happened. It was NOT a SCHEDULED one! “They” always send out an email to warn people of outages; when they will occur, and the duration expected.  This one came out of the blue,at the end of the supper hour.  Power = heat.  Power out for an hour = nervous people!!!    I haven’t heard what happened yet.  It does make you ponder the effects of no generators - and how long we could survive!!

Let’s see – also to finish up the season, we have to ‘bag drag’ the day before our flight to Christchurch. I had to have all my items packed – except for a small backpack to keep with me on the plane.  You have to take all your ECW gear – including big red and the bunny boots – with your luggage/bags up to the Air Services building to be weighed. (Huge platform scale – that holds bags and body, so no one has to know your actual weight!!!) Then it is taken from you so the Cargo crew can palletize it.  Then you get to wear big red and bunny boots back down the hill to the dorm to await the next day!   I packed my towel so had to rent one from the “corner bar” so I could shower this morning. It only cost 50 cents – or if you’re picky, they had a clean one for $2.00.  (I couldn’t see wasting my hard earned money.) 

Now it’s time to say goodbye….. lots of hugs and handshakes happening around here. I’ve told them I won’t be returning, so that makes the goodbye’s a little harder.  When I drove my final Willy Field run – I made sure to enjoy the view. The clouds even parted for awhile so I could enjoy the sunlight on the ice one more time.  Nice.

See ya back in Kansas!

Posted February 15, 2009 Comments(0)

Finally, a little wildlife spotted!  As I drove out to Willy Field it was standing beside the road (sort of – off in the distance, but NEAR the road.)  I asked the pilots in my vehicle if they would like to stop and view it.  “NO”… poo….. so I continued on to the Airstrip, dropped them off at their LC-130 and raced back to the site to get some photos!  Emperor penguins are much larger than the little, cute Adele’s.  They also can do a pretty mean WHACKING job with their little ‘wings’, so I didn’t dare approach it.  I’ll post photos of it as soon as I get my camera and cord down to the computer kiosk area!

Let’s see – yesterday was my final Cookie Day. I had chocolate chip. (As I have EVERY cookie day!) The station is emptying out – around 250 people have left already with more departing each day. My flight out is scheduled for Monday – Feb 16.  Each time I drive out on the snow roads – I look around – trying to memorize every detail of the surrounding mountains and Mt. Erebus with all her splendor.  Good thing Kansas allows for some pretty expansive views – I will miss being able to see and ‘feel’ the expansion down here.  But, I am looking forward to some time in New Zealand. Little nose – get ready for the smells!

I have certainly enjoyed my time in Antarctica. I recommend it to anyone who has the desire to travel and experience new things!   This departure signals the end of my adventure.  Last year I knew I was getting to return, and my enthusiasm never dwindled.  Now I have to make sure I have closure – and I hate saying goodbye!

Posted February 11, 2009 Comments(1)

I have this morning off- so used the time (between loads of laundry to add more photos! The supply ship is close to be being UNloaded. Then it will be LOADED. They figure about 2&1/2 – 3 more days.  The photos show the millvans that handle everything arriving. Food – tools – paper, it ALL goes in one of those!

I also posted one showing Oden, the ice crusher off in the distance of where I was driving. That used to freak me out a little last year – and it still did this year!  When driving out to the Pegasus Airfield, we know it is on frozen sea water. (And “they” say it will never melt.)  Yet you are driving along, glance out the window and see a SHIP sharing space with you!!!  With the warmer temps this year, we did have some terrible moments out at Pegasus. “They” who said it will never melt, sure used a lot of HOSE and a big engine thing to pump the water from around the airplanes out to as far away from the runway as possible!!!

The big event of the week was celebrating Shuttle Joe’s 80th birthday. (His actual date is the 22nd, but we will all be off the ice by then.)  The entire station took part in it, the galley went all out on some awesome cakes – complete with fancy decorating! The Carpentry shop made an awesome wooden plaque. The Sheet metal shop made a copper plate to fit on the wood, inscribed with information about this big event.  The Green House let us have FRESH, REAL, flowers for his table. And the entire galley joined in singing!  To date, he is the oldest WORKING person at McMurdo. (Could be in the entire Antarctic, but we have no way to verify that.)  He is an inspiration to us all.

Let’s see…. ONE MORE COOKIE day for me  – then it’s off for 2 weeks in New Zealand before returning home.

Posted February 5, 2009 Comments(0)

The supply ship arrived!  She was about a day and 1/2 late, but finally is ‘parked’ next to the ice pier. Once the ship was tied down/secured the 24 hour operation of off-loading began. We did bring in about 100 NAVCHAPS to assist with this. So far, everything is running smoothly. Since it is so arid, we have a ‘water truck’ that is trying to put down a wet path to aid in keeping the air around here breathable!  We all have red, itchy eyes from the dust blowing in and I spend a great deal of time SNEEZING.  I love snow… where is all our SNOW??? 

On the ship is our supplies for the next year – including a WIND mill that the Kiwi’s will be putting up on a hill to generate electricity. I did get some photos of the ‘pieces’. This one is smaller than those I’ve seen in Kansas.  I’ve been driving down Interstate 70 and passed the semi carrying a blade – THAT was a huge blade!!

We took our first group of station workers to the C-17 yesterday. It’s called getting “OFF the ice”. I have ONE more COOKIE DAY to go before I can get of the ice.  (My date has been selected as Feb. 16) We’ll see if the weather and planes hold up for this!  I am trying to memorize all the views I have been having for these past 4 months. I would like one more storm – so I can stand in it and get that exhilarating feeling again!

Posted February 4, 2009 Comments(1)

Well, here it is – February, my final month to enjoy in Antarctica. (Or half of a month – depending on my actual departure date!)

The weather continues to ‘hold’ – it’s been cold enough to help firm up the snow roads and transition area, but warm enough to still enjoy being outdoors in the sunshine. I really do miss all the storms we had last year. I’ve seen enough of the brown/gray/icky lava colored rocks to last awhile and want new, pristine snow again!

On Friday, I helped drive in 100 people from the Pegasus airfield. Most of them were NAVCHAPS. (People from the Navy who come to help with the off load and loading of the supply ship.) Yesterday, I and another shuttle driver ‘taught’ 6 of them to operate our Airporters. They will handle transporting their crews to and from the pier during the 24 hour operation!  The American Tern is due in tomorrow, and I believe McMurdo is ready! Millvans are stacked and ready. Signs have been posted all over to aid in the NAVCHAPS finding the locations to put the supplies!

The Weddell seals have arrived by the hundreds now. I don’t have any good photos of them this year. Still no sign of penguins. (Rats.)

…..only 2 more cookie days….!

Posted January 31, 2009 Comments(0)

I had some time this morning to work on shrinking photos to add here. They will cover the Fuel tanker – Lawrence M. Gianella arriving to provide us with MILLIONS of gallons of fuel for another year. Also the Oden – Ice crusher, is back trying to break up all the ice around McMurdo Sound. So far it is still staying in the bay. Everyone hopes it will flow out to sea so we can have OPEN WATER to view the incoming orcas, weddell seals and penguins!

I also have photos showing the view from my “boondoggle”. 10 of us from different departments around station were selected to ride ski-doos up the side of Mt. Erebus for an afternoon of relaxing and having fun. It was awesome!! I’d never ridden or driven one before.  The photos I posted (sort of) show the panoramic views from there.  The one showing Williams Airfield is a favorite. I’d never seen it from this angle. Now you can see how when the storms come through – the airfield becomes invisible! Along with anything or one that is there! 

I also included a photo of the Survival Gear that is always taken along when you leave town. We had a total of 12 people (2 guides and 10 boondoggle-ers?) This was to be a 4 or 5 hour trip in the DAY, yet you never know what the weather will do. Our guides also had along 2 large pots of hot water for drinks and extra snacks.  The route up to “Room With A View”…. is flagged. We NEVER got off the flagged route.  (I still drove fast enough to JUMP snow drifts!!!!) But I made sure I never ventured into unknown areas where those sneaky crevasses hide out.  I give all explorers gold stars for making it through. When you stand where they stood, and see the obstacles that they saw – you will be humbled.

My fingers were frozen from gripping the handle bars, but no one on our tour had frostbite.  I sure slept well that night!!

Last year the station used a lot of VOLUNTEERS to drive the old beat up trucks to haul millvans to and from the ships. Since the budget cuts and reduced staff in all areas – they had to hire people to come in and drive this year. (They hired a crew of Kiwis.)  They began their duties yesterday and we all had to listen carefully to the radio transmissions as the ACCENT is so hard to understand!

Enjoy the photos. (I’ll go fold laundry now!)

Posted January 22, 2009 Comments(0)

Well – yesterday the world watched Obama become our President.  Down here in Antarctica, the galley screen was transformed into a huge TV so that workers could watch the event as they ate. Normally, the big wall screen is used for lectures and slide shows only.  I missed the actual swearing in – but did see Bush and Obama get into the car for the big drive. (Then I was out the door to do my OWN drive out to Willy Field!)

Luckily, the weather has changed and we are now experiencing some nice -6 F that is helping firm up the roads.  And also along with that LUCK, I was given a  “boondoggle” (fun name for a little excursion to get people away from working 24/7)  My boondoggle was a trip on a ski-doo up 1,400 feet of Mt. Erebus!

Of course one wears every piece of ECW gear you own for an outdoor trip in 20- 25 knot winds. I also had the coolest James Bond looking helmet that kept my cheeks from freezing off!  We rode double and I was the pax on the way UP – DRIVER on the way down!  (FYI, I can jump snow drifts! Well, I hit them and then flew?) From our view – we could looked down over the Erebus glacial tongue. If you remember- that is the entrance to the Ice Cave. Totally different look from above.   You could just make out the Williams Airfield.  AND…. we could see the American Tern (fuel ship) coming!  In front of it was the Oden – guiding it through the chopped up ice.  Further out – OPEN WATER!!!  Awesome!  Mt. Erebus was spewing a great plume just for our tour. We were one of the luckiest as most have had cloudy days or fog and couldn’t see anything.  (I’m sure the RIDE was still fun!)  I only had my helmet “face” lifted for about 30 minutes as we were resting and snapping up photos, but managed to get a little sunburn WITH sunscreen.  How did the first explorers do it?

Only 3 more cookie days before my departure.  The time is flying by.  No word yet (because you only get a day notice) of a trip to the Dry Valleys.

Time to head to work.

Posted January 21, 2009 Comments(0)

Oden has been “playing” around in the bay for a couple of days now – chopping up all the ice, in hopes the wind will push it out to sea. (So far it’s still sitting here – like a big glass of crushed ice.)  It would be awesome to see a lot of open water this year.  One tiny little adelie followed (or lead) the ship in.  We sure haven’t seen the wildlife this summer. The seal numbers never rose beyond a dozen or so within our viewing area.

The millvans have all been checked and are being lined up in tidy rows all around McMurdo, in preparation of the Supply Ship’s arrival.  I haven’t heard yet where the Fuel ship is – that came first last year, and I assume it will again.  The exciting thing arriving on the supply ship will be the blades for our first little wind farm down here! 

H.S.H. Prince of Monaco is here now. Oh what a joy it is to have “D.V.’s” here. (Distinguished Visitors).

As for the roads. Finally, it is getting a little cooler so the transition and snow roads are holding up for at least a day and a half!  I’m still stiff and sore from last week’s little driving excursion. What a great job I have!!!  Nothing boring about it!  Have I mentioned how many times the delta’s and Ivan have broken down this year?  We are kept in a constant circle of “Uh oh… now what shall we do?”  You do have to be flexible and say – no worries!  It’s amazing how creative we get in getting people from destination A to destination B when we only have 2 of the 4 vehicles working!  (3 deltas and 1 Ivan)  Once the snow roads firm up, we can go back to using the vans. 

One of my roommates is leaving in 10 days.  Watching her pack up is a sad reminder that I have to begin that process, too.  All BOXES must be packed up and ready to ship by the end of Jan. Now I have to get organized again to determine what 2 shirts I will live in for the remainder of my time.  5 – 7 weeks from now! I absolutely hate carrying any more items than are necessary when flying out of here.

Posted January 15, 2009 Comments(0)

The ship should (or might) pull into port sometime today. She is staged on the other side of Hut Point, and we can see her from town. I don’t know if she will run around the area – crushing ice – or come to the pier. I did not volunteer for lineman, so I won’t be notified of when to report to help tie her in.

The buzzzzzz around town has increased by leaps and bounds as everyone knows this is the start of our final kick to get everything completed before we have to leave.

Last night, I met one of the men who instigated and started the WAIS Divide camp. (Western Antarctic Ice Shelf) He now lives in Wisconsin, however my astute hearing could detect NO Wisconsin accent. (He laughed and said, “oh, yes – I was born in Moscow!”)  He is here to check on the equipment he thought of, helped build and is now set up ready to drill at  WAIS Divide!  He was concerned about backup generators on the storage for his ice cores. Once you spend several million dollars to get to this point – you do not want a flop because the ice core (FILLED with all sorts of scientific data) melts.     (Scratching chin, aaah yes. I see that point.)

I will try to keep you better informed of the activities going on now. But for the moment – laundry calls.

Posted January 11, 2009 Comments(0)