A few photos

Well since I have some down time right now because of a storm down here, I figured I would get some pictures up. We went to the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch on our second day. I was glad I went. I got to see some trees that I never had seen before alond with some pretty flowers in Spring bloom. Hope this finds everyone well. I think I fixed the comment section so everyone can comment easier.

Tim

The following pictures are of the earthquake damage from the earthquake that hit back in February. We heard stories of aftershocks while we there from before we got in, but didn't feel anything while we were there. A majority of downtown Christchurch was fenced off from all the damage. It was an odd feeling walking around and seeing the damage. After going to New Orleans post Katrina I can see that there is a lot of work left to be done for Christchurch to come back. I hope to be able to come back some day and see the progress of the rebuidling. After the earthquake and all the after shocks all the church steeples were taken off and set on the gound to keep them from falling over. You can see a few in the photos.

I am still here!

So sorry for the delay in posts. It is hard to believe just how busy one can be at the bottom of the earth. I have been here at McMurdo Station 1 week now and all settled in. I am learning where things are a little more each day and getting into a routine of things. We have been working 9 hour days for the past week which does help to get used to life. I really shouldn't say working as it was more training than anything else. There have been times that I was able to work and help out with newly received cargo, helping other coworkers out on learning the equipment that we use down here, doing a little snow shoveling but there has been a lot of standing around trying to figure out what I could do or should do to help out.

Life here I would say is like living pretty much anywhere else in a small town of 1100. Everyone has their own responsibities and in the end we are all dependent on each other to succeed here. The food has been good, there have been a few items that have been a little less than desirable but other wise its good food to eat. There are 2 bars here with cheap beer so when you get a chance to drink and relax one can. I went last night to Scott Base which is run by New Zealand for American night which is the only night we can go over to their bar and drink. Scott Base is much smaller than McMurdo so we are restricted to when we go over.

I found out that I will be starting on night shift first at the airfield starting on Sunday night. I am looking forward to being out at the airfield working and getting to see the aircraft come and go along with working around them. The team I am on seems like a good group of individuals to work with. It is a small world down here when my supervisor graduated from the same high school I did, just 2 years earlier. I seemed to have gotten lucky with the living situation here. I have 3 roommates and we all seem to get along very well. 2 of my roommates flew in with me so I have gotten to know them very well.

The weather this week has been crazy. Sunday it was cold and windy but the sun was out, Monday was calm but cold, Tuesday and Wednesday it was very windy and cold. Some new snow fell on Tuesday and for a while we were placed under condition 2 weather which means poor visibility, cold temps and high winds. It was fun working out in it, today on the other hand is so nice I am wearing shorts walking around out side.

I hope that this finds everyone well and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Tim

First night out with my new friends after traveling from Denver.

9:42 pm Looking out on to the Ross Sea Ice

My corner of the dorm room.

A nice view from the cargo yard.

A view of the Ice Runway from McMurdo. Thats where I landed, when I leave I will go to a different runway 14 miles away.

Hello from Antarctica

Well I made it hear. I am going to keep this short today since I really am tired from all my travels. We got here today around 2:45 on a C-17 Globemaster. it was a fun flight, we got to see lots of Antarctica flying in. I have made lots of new friends on the trip down and some of the experienced veterans have been quite helpful. I hope to put pictures up tomorrow, but till than I hope that this finds everyone well.

Tim

Wow, Antarctica?

Well I figured since I am going to a place that most people don't ever get to see other than in movies, on tv or in pictures I would make up a blog about my travels, work and experience being in Antarctica. So here it is, hope you enjoy it.

Every one who I have told about this adventure has been extremely supportive but also ask the same question. Why Antarctica? Well after my dad went on his little cross country bicycle ride this past spring and seeing were I was at in life I needed a change and a adventure and figured that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity so why not.

I will be working in the ATO department as a Air Transportation Specialist Apprentice i.e. cargo. Everything that comes into Antarctica either comes in on C-17 Globemasters or one cargo ship in January along with one tanker ship around the same time as well. So I will be unloading and loading the C-17's along with assisting with the off-load and re-load of the cargo ship. To get supplies to the smaller field camps C-130 Skibirds and Twin Otter planes are used along with helicopters. So I will be assisting in loading and unloading cargo from these as well and delivering and receiving cargo from around McMurdo. I figured with having some equipment experience from my work and having a CDL drivers license this job would be an easy fit for me.

I leave for McMurdo on October 17 and should be back in March.