have an ICE day 

Intro

I am on my way back to McMurdo Station, Antarctica for my third season on the Ice. I'm working in the Crary Lab again this season as the Administrative Coordinator.

Toilet Tally

521 toilets scrubbed as of February 18, 2007

Weather at McMurdo

Contact Me

Email: katieantarctica@gmail.com

My Mailing Address

Relevant Reads

• Big Dead Place
• Terra Incognita
• Ice Bound

Antarctica Movies

• March of the Penguins
• Eight Below
• Madagascar
• Happy Feet
• The Thing
• Alien vs. Predator

Other Ice Websites

• Antarctic Slang
• Ana Bell
• Erin's Life on The Ice
• Sweet As
• South Pole Dudes
• Phil Jacobsen
• Sandwich Girl
• winter camp

Visitors

My Photos

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Off the Ice

I'm off the Ice! We boarded the C-17 at Pegasus around 5pm or 5:30 and arrived in Christchurch around 10:30. At the beginning of the flight we could see snow-covered mountains and icebergs! I spent the first couple hours chatting with my friend Erik in the back of the plane so I wouldn't disturb the people I was sitting next to that were trying to sleep.

After we landed in Christchurch we were loaded onto a few buses and driven to the international arrivals. I was so excited to be standing on pavement, I kept jumping up and down until we boarded the bus. The first store we walked past as we entered the airport was a perfume store, a little overwhelming for my sense of smell. If you didn't already know this, there aren't very many things to smell in Antarctica, and the longer you're there, the more sensitive it becomes. We went through immigration, where Ralph was stopped because of the similarity between his last name and some fugitive or something. I made it through customs, and then Ralph and I had cart races on the walk to the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center). As I was about to go into the room to turn in all of my gear, I realized that I was so excited to get luggage on the conveyor belt, that I forgot a small duffel bag. Luckily, one of the CDC guys had just brought it over. I handed in all of my gear, and then I caught a shuttle to my hostel.

After checking in and dropping off my stuff, I went to Cathedral Square to meet up with Ralph and Erik (who were staying in much nicer hotels) for some late night dinner and drinks. Bailey's, a pub with lots of Antarctic memorabilia, stayed open late when they heard our flight was coming in after most places were closed. We got a couple of pizzas and some draught beer and just relaxed a bit. The boys walked me home... such gentlemen.

I was walking to my room on the 3rd floor of the building and a big bug flew in front of me and scared me half to death. I forgot bugs existed, I guess. And that they were so big here.

The next day my friend Adriana and I went for a Greek lunch at Dmitri's and then caught a shuttle to the CDC to mail some packages home. My box of stuff was huge, but it's way better to mail it than lug it around Australia with me. Helen, my McMurdo roommate, just happened to be getting her new Scott Base gear from the New Zealand CDC just down the sidewalk. She was able to give us a lift into town, and we made plans to meet up for dinner. I spent the afternoon window shopping and wandering town. I spent a half hour in a convenience store trying to decide which ice cream treat to get. It's all a little overwhelming, yet surprisingly easy to slip back into life here.

Last night Helen was running late, so Erik, Ralph, Mark, and I picked a Thai restaurant. Helen and her friend Grant were able to meet us awhile later. After we finished dinner and our bottle of wine, we headed to the Honey Pot for drinks and/or coffee and a couple games of pool. We all walked to Helen's car and waved her off as they drove away.

Today I packed up all of my gear to store it in the luggage closet at my hostel. Ralph and I were planning to go to Akaroa to visit our friends Bill and Joolee, but all accommodations there are booked. So right now, we're both homeless and looking for another town for a quick escape from Christchurch!