Simply, My LIfe

Thursday, November 3, 2011

A Return to the Ice

Several years ago in 2007, I ventured to Antarctica for two seasonal contracts, a summer at the South Pole and then a winter at Palmer Station. Once those and a few months of travel were complete, I returned to Portland and not sure where my life was taking me, I got a job and a home and basically grew some roots.

Then this February, an email from a close friend changed my path as it prompted me to apply for at a contract at the South Pole again. It's the 100 year anniversary of when humans first stepped foot on the bottom of the globe after all, sure to be an epic season. Without actually believing it would happen, I ended up getting the contract, and I'm now writing this blog from my room in the elevated station at the South Pole.

It was harder to leave Portland this time as I love almost everything about my life there, but adventure called and I couldn't resist. I'm supposed to be related to Daniel Boone, so perhaps I have some of his wanderlust in my blood.

Regardless, I left the States one Thursday and arrived at the South Pole the next. Below is a pictorial timeline of the journey south from Christchurch.

A room full of Antarcticans in ECW gear, a requirement on to board the plane, waiting to depart Christchurch

Rhiannon and Jeremy boarding our C17 that would fly us to McMurdo, our layover for the South Pole

It's a surreal feeling to ride in a plane without windows

A different sort of flight attendant and a different sort of oxygen mask if we lose pressure. Hope I could work one of those if I had to.

Understandably so, no flight to Antarctica is complete without cargo loaded in the back

My favorite part of the flight, going up to the flight deck to look at the instrumentation and take in the scenery

5 hours later we land on not land, but a sea ice runway at McMurdo

My first steps on the Ice! Those are called bunny boots by the way and were originally developed by the military

Ivan the Terra Bus, our transport to and from the sea ice runway to McMurdo Station proper

A very quick turn around, we boarded an LC-130 (often referred to as a herc, short for hercules) around 12 hours later for our flight to the South Pole. Only aircraft with skis can land at the Pole as it does not have a hard surfaced runway

The LC-130 is way smaller and less comfortable than a C17. Those are our carry-on bags in between our rows of seats.

3 hours we land at my new, albeit temporary, home! It was a cold (almost -40C with -50C windchill), white, no-horizon and windy day at the South Pole

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Adventure Day in New Zealand

For the past 2 days, I've been getting a call around 5 a.m. saying that my flight to the ice was on a 24 hour delay due to weather at McMurdo. Rather than stay in town for a 2nd day in a row, my friends and I decided to use a rental truck to take ourselves on an adventure for the day. Our destination: Arthur's Pass National Park. This mountainous region is a couple hours drive outside of the city, taking us longer since we stopped along the way to take pictures and explore. On the way home, we picked up a hitchhiker (a common practice in NZ) and drove her back to her place of work. As a thank you, this cool Canadian chick took us on a tour of the farm, giving us the chance to gush over baby animals. Simply said, it was a fun and random day.

The forecast in McMurdo looks good for tomorrow, and we're all preparing to fly south early in the morning.

Driving west

Playing around on railroad tracks

Self-portrait, courtesy of Rhiannon, next to a rushing and astoundingly blue river

Waterfall with the clearest of pools

The Kea, a mountain parrot that unfortunately loses favor once you get to know them

A Kea trying to eat parts off of our rental car

Beautiful backdrop

Lamb

Puppies

Baby cows

Three peas in a pod happy they went on an adventure

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Christchurch: Devastated but Beautiful

Well, the time has come for me to leave the United States and make the long journey to the South Pole. As part of my travels south, I, along with other Antarcticans, layover for a couple of days in Christchurch, New Zealand. The main purpose of this stop is to get our Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear at the Clothing Distribution Center (CDC).

Once this pesky chore is out of the way, we then have the chance to fill our bellies full of flavorful Asian cuisine, drink our final draft beers and explore this beautiful city. However, much has changed from my time here in 2007/2008. Starting in the fall of 2010, earthquakes (some reaching a magnitude of 6.3) and several aftershocks have ravaged this city. Now, downtown is cordoned off and is eerily quiet, giving it a very distinct post-apocalyptic feel. Favorite restaurants are closed, rubble remains where buildings once stood and we are housed miles outside of the city center.

However, hope remains in resilient Christchurch. Reconstruction efforts are underway, businesses are reopening in other parts of the city and the expansive botanical gardens, where most Antarcticans go to soak up some life before heading to the ice, are open and alive and luscious.

Trying on lots of layers at the CDC. Love my insulated carhart bibs!

My first view of the earthquake destruction

Empty sidewalks

and closed roads

Sadly, many historic buildings tumbled

or had to be braced

Many sidewalks rolled or caved

I couldn't help but feel a zombie may come around the corner any second

But there is hope

And beauty

Flowers abound during the southern hemisphere spring

And bees love it!

I only just realized my camera has Sepia...duh

This can't be real

My fellow Portlander, friend and colleague, Kris, joined me for the day

As did, Rhiannon, my other fellow Portlander, friend and colleague

Monday, September 5, 2011

Final Adventures in Denmark

As I sat on the train to Copenhagen to catch my flight home, I took a moment to reflect on all the time I've spent in this cool little country over the last 18 months and to wonder if I would ever return. I honestly feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to see and experience Danish culture and to make so many new friends here. With impending life changes on my horizon, possibly making this my last trip to Denmark in quite a while, I tried to live it up as much as possible. My travels took me from Copenhagen to Aarhus to Skagen, the northernmost tip of the country, and to Kolding for my final Vestas team event. When my two weeks here were up, parting was definitely bittersweet. I'll miss you DK.

Copenhagen

The Ice Bar in Copenhagen

The Little Mermaid
She had previously been at the World's Fair in Shanghai but now she is back

Vestas Team Event 2011

My boss riding a segway

Very, very fast jet boat rides

Glad there is a sign warning me NOT to do this

A Vestas team event isn't a team event without a helicopter ride....

..or driving an ATV...

..or shooting a shotgun

The girls of IT: myself, Fritzie from Manilla and Violet from Beijing
I feel lucky to work with such strong women who aren't afraid to speak up and be an empowered member in a team of 40+ men

Skagen, the Northernmost Tip of Denmark

My ride, borrowed from a friend, for my solo adventure to the wilds of the north

Grenen or "the stick" of Denmark

Standing where two seas collide

Yumm! Fresh Norway lobster for lunch in the cute town of Skagen