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January 2007 |
14/01/07
Well, it appears to have become a very busy place, this little outpost in the winter desert mid-west. I apologise to those regular readers for not keeping a regular update (Rachel's mum, especially) but it has become quite hectic this last week. Continuous daily updates were proving quite demanding on my time and most evenings were spent in front of the computer trying to gather the wild and plentiful memories rushing through my head. So I took the decision to cut back to weekly entries thus saving the repetitive nature of our daily duties. And this leads me onto the main point. I haven't really given a focused and appreciative impression of any elements of the base and BAS which suggests I may be missing the point. Many readers are not particularly interested in how I went snowboarding or skiing, or what colour the icebergs are? These are points of interest none the less, but many people would like to understand the bigger picture and so over the coming months I hope that I will be able to provide an enjoyable and informative account of life on base with BAS. I don't quite know which bit to do first so I'll start with what I know best: BOATS My role at Rothera Research Station is Winter Boating Officer. This position is colloquially know as the Boatman, or to some humorous elements of management, goat-herder (because people in the past may have asked how many goats(!?) there are to look after?). Anyway as with all operations down here winter teams overlap so that essential knowledge and information is passed on. This occurs in the summer (UK winter) and happens to be the busy period of the year, what with the weather being so nice. This year I have arrived to relieve Bernard of the post after a year and a half in the position. The reasons for having boats here at Rothera are numerous, as is the list of scientific work carried out using the station as a static platform or a point of deployment and source of re-supply (this I hope to touch on later). To Be Continued... |
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5/01/07
It was a discretely productive day today. The dash 7 arrived with more folk for the station yesterday so more people to meet and get to know. This meant more biologists and so likelihood of our services to be required. At the morning meeting, held in the Bonner lab at 8:30am, there were three dives planned and a trip to lagoon islands required for some wading around for limpets. Bernard saw to the first dive while I busied myself with cleaning the boatshed. (Psychologically, this may seem like I'm moving in onto Bernard's patch, but with a VVIP due in a couple of weeks, things need to be spick and span!) The mechs had finished onto the jetty so Andy completed my refresher on the Nodwell crane used for lifting the boats off their trailers from the wharf. With this complete, Bernard and I were able to practice with Discovery, the CTD boat (a CTD on a smaller scale to that used on the JCR last month.) After the lesson on the crane, Andy and I practiced using the correct tractor use for the slipway. Thus on the second dive, we were able to deploy Stella by trailer from the slip, with Bernard demonstrating while I drove the tractor. Much easier, though a little interesting with the ice around. After lunch, the wind had picked up from the south which brought more ice and wind. These conditions were deemed too strong and the trip to lagoon was postponed, as was the last dive. And so it was that Bernard and I completed the spring clean of the boatshed and various smaller tasks about the vicinity.
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4/01/07
A mixed day with a slow start that slowly built into a flurry of activity. The slipway was busily worked on by the mechanics as they tried to haul (push, might be a better word) it into the water. While this was happening Stella was launched for a dive to South Cove. More collections of sea creatures. This time, Sue-Ann and Bernard were diving, while Matt supervised and I drove the boat. After lunch, while the mechs continued to toil under the arduous task of making the slipway fit; a group of terrestrial biologists headed out to Lagoon islands to collect samples and study the sites. The rest of the afternoon involved a second dive for Bernard and Sue-Ann, SAR cover for the dash aircraft, and then the packing of the boats away. The evening was beautiful and the dash 7 arrived from Punta Areanas with more people for base. Some 'old hat', some totally new to it! Finally, a lovely evening of football, though I had a bad night and failed really to make much progress. But you have good nights, and bad nights!
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3/01/07 The wind is still blowing at Force 6 so there wasn't much opportunity for boating. However, Bernard and I did spend the day getting on and off the SAR boat as the Dash 7 was dispatching to Punta Arenas in Chile. Snow showers kept moving through the area so we were in and out of our boatsuits. Its all good experience so I have no qualms. The highlight was when the Russian helicopters left as we got a great view from the water as the headed south toward Patriot Hills (a commercial base further south). Other than that, we continually busy ourselves with the handover, as Bernard will be leaving the boats in my hands at the end of January. |
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2/01/07 There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to fit everything in! Today was 'normal back to work' day and waking a little late, I managed to make the morning Met meeting at 7:45am. This briefing is for the air operations but involves various station personnel including the boats as we have to provide SAR cover, plus we can find out whether we can boat. Today was not going to happen with Force 7 Northerly winds and snow showers. This didn't prove too bad as I have training. First off is AMOS. Can't remember what it stands for but all you need to know is I spend time counting nuts and washers and all that and Cambridge know what to send down next year. Its a relatively simple database and really quite cool if you're into bean-counting! However, when you're so far away its good to know what's coming, going and lost. Next on the agenda was the bearing on a trailer wheel. This turned into a highly educational day as I was given a full lesson in bearings, hubs and wheels by the mechs, Andy and Adam. Saltwater and wheel bearings do not mix and when they break up, it is worse then some Hollywood divorces with plenty of tears! So good maintenance and care and attention and we'll all happy. I was also given a detailed introduction to the Boating tractor which we use to push trailers and boats into the water on the slipway, that will soon be fitted near the wharf. The day ended on a very big high as Drew (wintering Field Assistant) and I took skidoos up to Vals. The traverse (a safe path amongst crevasses) was deep in powder snow and difficult at first as the skidoos wanted to divert our intended course. When we did get to the caboose, the views were beautiful and Drew and I spent three hours snowboarding down the most awesome powder snow. It was a truly beautiful evening and it has invigorated our souls with the prospect of the winter here.
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1/01/07
Happy New Year As one might expect getting up was a little hard but easier for some who knew they were working today. Though technically this is more of a hobby. A quick breakfast and popping my head round the door of the met room, I discovered a blustery day with Force 4 winds building. Bernard and I were taking the Morrison builders (the New Bransfield building is slowly being erected) out for a jolly trip amongst the icebergs. Six turned up at 10:30am, and we set off. The weather was a little brisk but many commented on how their hangovers were cleared sharply! We skirted North Cove and then headed south to Lagoon island where the guys were awe-struck by the elephant seals. many of the Morrison team are ex-BAS employees so have experienced much of it before, though it is possible never to tire of these views. After a hearty lunch, we gathered in the boatshed for a second trip, but the weather was building and so we had to postpone the trip. For the rest of the afternoon, I relaxed and enjoyed the day. The evening was full with a barbeque which in true British fashion was blustery and very cold. But we all queued for our burgers in classic Brit style. Then, Drew convinced a group of us to skin (skiing cross-country using artificial seal skin that enables movement uphill) to the caboose. The distance is quite far as we soon realised and had to stop for tea at the hut. We then decided to had back to Rothera in wonderful blowing snow and swirling cloud. As we arrived the base was a buzz as two Russian Mi-8 helicopters were due in from Marsh (an airfield further to the north). They eventually found their way through the Force 7 blizzards and landed in spectacular style. An action-packed day!
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