So resupply is finally over!!! YAYYY! All together it took 12 days to complete after we lost a few days to high winds in which the cranes could not operate. This time was well spent catching up with our out-going counterparts to do a decent hand over and get a good feel for the place.During cargo operations I spent most of my time at the wharf as the dogman slinging up containers from the barge to one of our cranes on shore to be transported to the station as well as sending cargo back to the ship to be returned to Australia. All the refuelling operations went well and we successfully transferred over 800,000 litres of fuel to the station. We worked in 4 hour shifts and had all the fuel transferred in two days. We put in a long day the second day and didn’t finish until 11.30 pm by which time it was getting bloody cold standing on top of the fuel tanks but this gave me a chance to try out different combinations of the equipment they provided to keep me warm so it was good to see what works. The added bonus which made it all worth while being out that late on a clear night was that I was able to see my first Aurora although unfortunately I was not able to snap any photos of it as I don’t think my camera is quite set up for that sort of photography. Even though I stayed out there until 1.30am there was still the faintest bit of sunlight on the horizon. Mooring the ship in the harbour was a bit of fun. They had three shore-based teams of three at a few different places to attach 6 mooring lines to the bollards. One person in each team had to wear a dry suit and life jacket in case we ended up having to get in the water. I got this job. So when the boaties came across from the ship in small zodiac boats towing the mooring lines they had to toss a tag line connected to the mooring rope to us then we would haul the whole lot up on the shore. The bloke who tossed us the rope threw an absolutely shocking throw and the whole lot just ended up in the water so then I had to jump in the water up to about my chest to get it. Thankfully those dry suits are so good I didn’t get wet or cold at all. Yesterday the last of the outgoing people returned to the Aurora and those of us left behind walked out to the other side of the harbour and waved goodbye to the Aurora with flares for the last time as it completes its final voyage to the Antarctic continent. Today has been our first day of much needed rest after the chaos of resupply. It’s a slightly strange sensation after having so many people bustling around the station and now just the few of us left casually go around finally able to unpack in their rooms and just chill out a bit. It does feel good to finally get settled. Adeline penguins are a really common sight around here. For the most part they’re not at all bothered by us. It’s quite comical to watch them try and walk around on the rocks but they are like bullets in the water. Because the station is on quite a rocky area with a lot of loose gravel and steep slopes I’m constantly looking down rather than up as I’m walking around which more than a couple times has almost ended up in me just walking into a penguin. Seals are never far away and we can often see them sleeping on the rocks near the station and orcas come through the harbour every few days as they patrol the area.
Mum, I’ve only just unpacked my cargo I sent down so have only just now got my weighted blanket out. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’ve not yet had a chance to look at the blog but I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job.
Anyway all good on this end and hope everything is great back home.
Guy's Antarctica Adventure 2020 