http://simonc.f2o.org/south/ en-us Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:59:34 +0000 http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000166.php I've just finished putting together a new website for the Halley VI Project as part of my new job with them. The idea is that we will all post news articles to the front page to keep everyone informed about... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000165.php Halley has a great selection of old 8mm cine film reels, with the best of the bunch being a 50 minute colour documentary of the 1955-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. It usually gets a few showings a year and the quality... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000164.php Well I should have known that I couldn't stay away forever! Since I got back to the UK I've spent a couple of months working for BAS in Cambridge, setting up some computers which are being sent to Halley next... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000163.php I've been putting off writing an entry for a while now about what it's like to be back in the UK. After being in such a strange place for the last two and a half years I think I was... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000162.php I've been back home for two weeks now, but before I get to that I should write about my last few days in the Falklands and the journey home. Before leaving I visited the Stanley museum, which contained an unusual... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000161.php After a winter at Halley, the Falkland Islands acts as a gentle reintroduction back into civilization. Since we arrived my list of "firsts for two years" has continued to grow - I've seen all manner of strange objects such as... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000160.php We arrived at Mare Harbour in the Falklands this morning, a military port where the RRS Ernest Shackleton docks for refuelling and crew changes. I haven't had a chance to get ashore yet, but that will change tomorrow when we... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000159.php We arrived at Signy early on Sunday morning, after picking our way through a field of icebergs in the vicinity of Coronation Island. Because the water is shallow near the islands passing icebergs regularly get grounded, resulting in a large... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000158.php With all the work finished at Bird Island we are back on the open ocean. Our last destination before the Falklands is Signy Island, right on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Map showing the route of the RRS Ernest... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000157.php It's been such a busy couple of days I haven't had a chance to post so I've got a double-bumper entry today covering our second day at King Edward Point and our first day at Bird Island. Penguin River and... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000156.php Today I stood on solid ground for the first time in two years, saw my first plant life, climbed my first hill, saw my first house fly and saw rain again for the first time (predictably, just before the barbecue).... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000155.php The shadow of the ship against the ice shelf at N9. On Monday the second wave of passengers and cargo arrived at N9. After unloading the sledges we waived them off for their long drive back to base. We... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000153.php We left the base early on Saturday morning for the long drive to N9. The vehicle mechanics had already been up for hours getting the vehicles warmed up, and setting off in the slower vehicles - a bulldozer and crane... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000154.php The ship is cruising across the Weddell Sea and due to arrive at Halley tomorrow morning, so I've been busy packing up my remaining belongings. I got rid of a lot of my stuff when the ship arrived at the... http://simonc.f2o.org/south/archives/000151.php Yesterday I was lucky enough to get a flight to Neumayer Station, another Antarctic base run by the Germans which is around 800km from Halley. Apart from the Argentinian Belgrano base, Neumayer is the closest wintering base to us and...