Apprent-ICE Blog 2016 #5

This week saw a huge milestone for both extensions on the HFC as we manage to get all six sectional doors installed. The rest of the crew got most of the flashings complete on the roof making both buildings more or less water tight which meant "roof shout time". Unfortunately last time we had a BBQ outside the steak didn’t stay hot for very long and was frozen again by the time you went to eat it! So this time, Keith, the Base Chef use the kitchen and cooked us all beautiful steak burgers along with a couple of beers made for an enjoyable evening. That’s not to say we are close to finishing. We are on schedule but still have a lot of work to do in the next four weeks.

Life on Base is awesome, we are down to 21 crew members with a cool family atmosphere in and around Base. Every Thursday night we invite the Americans over from McMurdo Station. This is a great idea because it is a good time to mix with them, and I find it very interesting finding out what their role is and how they got to come down here.

Since having the sea ice break out earlier this month we have had the pleasure of seeing whales most nights right in front of Scott Base swimming around in McMurdo Sound. We even caught the rear sight of nine whales tail slapping and leaping clear out of the water. They were thought to be the Arnoux beaked whales, another very rear and brilliant experience I will be talking about for a very long time.

We had our first winter over social club meeting this week, and with some of the awesome ideas that were discussed, I look forward to sharing them with you as they progress.