22 Feb 2016

McMurdo Visits

The landing was tricky but our tour of McMurdo Station went smoothly as all military operations should. Four groups 30 minutes apart escorted by enthusiastic station volunteers had a wonderful time touring the installation. We saw science, engineering, the chapel, shop and coffees all under a burning sun, blue sky and zero wind! The 3.5 hour tour was comprehensive and very welcoming and the size of this base is truly impressive as were the American smiles everywhere we went. We shuttled back to the ship for lunch and then it was time for some Kiwi Magic over the hill on the best water/icefront you could imagine at Scott Base. The laid back attitude and humour was for New Zealanders in particular very familiar. The Kiwi science programme is impressive and they are punching above their weight as a nation. Later we took a tour of Scott’s other hut at Hut Point. At the end of a magic day it seemed only right to ask a few Kiwis back to the ship and 12 turned up for a tour and drinks in our bar while Hercules aircraft landed on the ice out front.  We had certainly enjoyed a wonderful day at anchor with no wind, ice freezing around the ship, sea smoke rising slowly from the glass sea, 20 Orca swimming behind the ship and Minke Whales out from the bow. At 2100hrs a party of 15 were landed to climb to Scott’s cross on the summit of Memorial Hill. As they watched the midnight sun skim the horizon, the full moon appeared behind! This was the first sunset for some time at this latitude. The seasons are changing, it is time to move on.