Aboard the NBP!

Another hectic 24 hours of travelling, and I am well rested and settling in
aboard the NBP, on the ice pier and McMurdo base. We left ChCh after
struggling through a 0530 wake up, a final check of luggage, changing in to our
ECW gear, and downing our last good coffee at the CDC. I wish I could send
pictures of the stuff that followed...it's really too much to try to realy in
the time have this morning, when I should be helping my "boss" Brice get the
equipment set up. We have to do that because McMurdo is in the midst of one of
the most crazy times of the year -- offload. We flew in with a 100 or so
NavChaps -- Navy Cargo Handling and Processing? -- who will be taking all of
the supplies and fuel for the winter off a supply ship over the next week or 10
days. It takes a lot of work to feed and support a town of 1000 (right now,
smaller in winter).

So anyway we have to get off the pier by 8 pm (2000) tonight instead of 2/3/07,
three days early. In addition to taking inventory we also have to go shopping
and visit everything in and around town before we leave port -- just so we can
sit in McMurdo sound for a few days. Three training videos and lectures, the
flight, and moving bags around, took up most of the day (but not the light!)
yesterday.

Since we'll be sitting in McMurdo sound after tonight, I should have more time
to give more details of the trip and my time on the "ice" then.

Weather update -- WARM! just about freezing. Water is flowing down the
glaciers on the hillside above McMurdo as it's been warm for a while. But
everyone is warning us it could change. I'll let you know if it does.

Thanks for listening.

New Zealand

I'm sitting in my bed in the Windsor B&B in lovely Christchurch NZ on
Monday morning. Travel went flawlessly except for the unavoidable
fact that it was way too long. With the 30 hours of solid travel
between Philly and Christchurch along with the 16 hour time zone
shift I have to be told what day it is. 10 or so hours of sleep have
relied some of the disorientation, but I'm still unsure of what time
it is back at home and should probably just forget.

I've met a fair amount of the science crew which will be on the NBP
at this point. Sounds like there is a strong Lamont-Doherty
(Columbia) contingent, and in the small sample so far, it seems like
we may span a pretty good range of newbies to the very experienced.
I probably asked some dumb questions to the more experienced, but
it's probably better to get these things out of the way before we get
on the ship. Anyway we talked some science over Indian last night
but for the most part were just trying to stay awake until dark. Whet
night fell, so did I.

Glad that you are along for my first trip to the southern
hemisphere. The fact that it's warm here is not weird, but the fact
that it stays light until late is. I suppose I'm going to have to get
used to this and soon. I keep making sciencey jokes about the
coriolis-induced vertigo, but no one thinks they're funny.

Today's schedule involves a jog in the botanical gardens, a trip to
the CDC to try on and pick up ECW. Then just walking around. It's a
shame that I can't spend more time here and that a lot of it is spent
trying on clothes. That's my bad though.

Next update from the ice assuming the flight leaves tomorrow.

C

erratum

OK I know I said I wouldn't write until New Zealand, but I have to
send an email anyway and I realized that I made a mistake yesterday.
Luckily Liz made me check my itinerary. I left at 1:30 for Sydney,
then ChCh. Not 12:00 for Auckland. So I've already lied about my
trip. Won't happen again. I'm pretty sure I'm not in charge of the
ship's schedule anyway.

PS I had the best experience ever in the Philly airport today. I
arrived 2.5 hours early and was through security in 10 minutes.

last day at home

Thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic responses to the trip and
this blog. I feel like there's some pressure to perform now.

Anyway, I'm packing according to the USAP (US Antarctic Program)
guidelines. It's funny that the one thing I don't have to bring is
cold weather gear. I pick that up in Christchurch (ChCh, or Cheech
according to those more knowledgeable than I am). I've shipped a box
full of reading material and gummy worms (in October?) so I'm OK on
that front, assuming they get to the ship. I'm most worried about
forgetting stuff like a camera, music, or something critical to my
computer, which is full of lots of diversions. I'm also worried about
the computer breaking and/or crashing. Otherwise it's just like
packing for a vacation or business trip.

Liz and I go to the Philly airport tomorrow for a 12 noon flight to
Dallas. Then I am on my way to Antarctica and she goes home to the
rest of the family. Thanks Liz -- I'll miss you!!!

According to omniscient google earth, the coordinates (lon, lat) of
various points on the journey are:

My office, Princeton: -74.654401, 40.346041
My house, Yardley: -74.829579, 40.240394
Philadelphia International Airport: -75.241826, 39.878292

Dallas: -97.041, 32.891
LA: -118.397, 33.944
Auckland: 174.782, -37.008
Christchurch: 172.534, -43.486
McMurdo: 166, -77.8

Assuming all goes well, you'll hear from me in Christchurch. Till
then...

welcome!

hi from princeton. one week until i leave. just wanted to let you
know that when i am gone i will not be able to see any posts or
comments. but i encourage you to comment for me and/or the rest of
the (anticipated) visitors to the blog.

i also will not be able to see if the blog is taken over by spammers
so i apologize in advance if this happens! technology = blessing and
curse.

thanks again!