The flight has been delayed a couple of times but it looks like I'll be leaving tomorrow still in time for Xmas! The last couple of days have been good anyway so it's not so bad... and fresh stocks of bundy arrived in the mail so the old bear has been entertaining me. I also ended up getting a joyflight on the C-212 which was awesome! What a way to end the year! It was like the after dinner mint at the end of a five star meal. Pretty much all year we've only been able to travel about 50km away from station, so to get in a plane and fly 500km to Bunger Hills in two hours really expanded my perspective of Antarctica.  It's a pretty interesting place if you want to read about it in the link but I can't be bothered at all writing in this today, I should be surfing right now so here's the pics already -


Before takeoff at the skiway...


Flying over Vincennes Bay...


Bunger Hills from the air...


Abandoned Soviet / Polish station...





The Bunger Hills are surrounded by glaciers on either side and the Shackleton ice shelf in the North cutting it off from open ocean.


More Bungers...


Crevasse city!


Ice bergs amongst the sea ice...


More glacier...


There's bergs...


And then there's monster bergs!


Casey from the air with the Aurora parked in the bay...


How much would people pay for a flight like this?  And I actually get paid to do this stuff, it's unbelievable!


Quad boggage...


The plane reminds me of something from Budgie the helicoper haha, this one's name is Gadget or Snowbird 3.


Up front with the pilots Troy and Al on the way there and in the back on the way home looking out the windows.  It was cool listening to all the official pilot speak!



More quad boggage...


You don't really see so much unfrozen fresh water like this in Antarctica very often!


The runway and refuel point.  The plane lands on a frozen lake.


The apple huts, whale researchers and pilots will be living in this camp for the next month or so and flying out to do aerial surveys each day.


GPS navigator that guides the autopilot from waypoint to waypoint.


More fancy plane stuff...

And a few final pics of the Aurora as well, it's good to have the big red taxi back on station!









Well it's all over now so thanks for reading!

Well after 392 days, 4500+ photos, 56 blizzards, 1 Don Burke radio appearance, 2 TV appearances, hundreds of once in a lifetime memories and only one aurora (ripped off) it's finally time to come home! I don't know how to express my disbelief but in five days time I will check in my trusty bivvy bag and survival pack and say goodbye to the Antarctic. Right now as I look out my window onto the ice (well more like ice and muddy puddles now with all the summer melt) I know that this time next week my views of the Southern Ocean and it's icebergs will be traded for views of the Pacific Ocean and sand. There are so many things to look forward to right now and I feel like I'm about to discover the world again for the first time. Surfing, friends and family, girls, freedom, hot sunny days, nightlife, plus the simple things like driving, trees and grass, nandos, slurpees, hot chips with chicken salt and everything else I've missed the past year! It's going to be one crazy awesome rush and I can't wait to get back to it all! I may actually go insane with excitement!

In saying that, no matter how much I've been looking forward to coming home it's going to be really sad to leave this amazing place. I remember one night back in early winter over at Wilkes Hilton. I was a little drunk but the night was completely clear and I was looking up at the stars and the feeling was indescribable. Knowing that right then and there at that point in time, I couldn't have possibly been further away in time and place from the other six billion people in the world was a pretty staggering realisation. Everything is amplified in the Antarctic and the year has been full of incredibly powerful experiences and emotions. Mostly ups but with an occasional down being so far away from everyone and everything. I'll never forget my year in Antarctica and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I said it wouldn't change me and I know I'm still the same person that left but I feel like this year has taught me so much and shaped me in so many ways. I know I'll never take anything, no matter how small, for granted again and am going to appreciate everything so much more now. I wouldn't say I've grown up just yet cause I'll always be a big kid but the last thirteen months has given me a lot of time to think and I know I've definitely done a lot of growing! Maybe I haven't changed, but I now see the world through a different set of eyes compared to this time last year, that's for sure!

Anyway apart from that it's been pretty busy the last couple of weeks with the C-212 returning -


Still hoping to get a flight on one of these in the next couple of days but it's looking pretty unlikely...

I also managed to sneak in one final trip to Wilkes for some Captain Morgan around the fire. Even though there was no Bundy cause they stuffed up our mail it was still good to get back to the old hut one last time!


Best fridge in the world!

And finally the Aurora Australis is finishing up on some marine science out to sea and should be steaming into port on Friday for our annual resupply...


It will be good to see the old girl one last time...

Today marks the 365th day since I stepped onto the Aurora Australis and started my journey South. Bit of a milestone so I thought I should get rid of a few things I've been meaning to post all year but never got around to. Nothing too exciting really...

First off a few pics from a cold Anzac Day dawn (it was a late dawn this far south) service on the ice back in April -









Next up is a sun halo over the red shed, also in April -


The light is refracted by the ice crystals in the high cirrus cloud...

There were also the Monday slushy sessions, the one day of the week when Rocket gave us mere slushies free reign over the kitchen (with a pre prepared dinner to stick straight in the oven of course). The best part of the day is making a playlist for the station radio and cranking up the music.


Brand New...


+ Maximum volume...


= Singstar: Broom Edition...


And Guitar Hero: Rock out with your mop out!


Apart from that smoko needs to be made, toasted ham and chez rolls were my specialty...


And more importantly, the beer needs to be restocked...


The dishwasher refilled...


And the rubbish (they call it gash down here) taken to the incinerator...


The final job is to keep the daily quote board up to date with a gem such as this - "Sometimes when I think about all the bundy I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass about the workers at the distillery and all their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this rum, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, it is better that I drink this bundy and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."

I didn't mind the odd day in the kitchen for a bit of a change, but nothing I could ever come up with would compare to Rocket's efforts with the food. We have seriously eaten like kings over the year. Some of the Saturday night dinners have been the best meals of my life and even just the standard mid-week eating has been consistently delicious. Don't even mention the desserts! And the smokos, every day there was a selection of both sweet and savoury. From shepherd's pies, bacon and egg rolls / pies, quiches, toasties, salmon and egg pastries to hot donuts and pancakes, muffins, chocolate pecan pies, and the jewel in the crown - vanilla slices. Here is a picture of a lemon and meringue tart, just one of many items that went straight from the kitchen and into our stomachs -


Soooooo goooooood... *eats three pieces and feels sick*

And back in August Casey played host to possibly the first mini golf tournament in Antarctica. The icy surfaces on the nine hole white presented a bit of a challenge, and the highlight would have to be a finely played eagle on the most difficulut hole. A hairpin set-up next to a small ice cliff. At least there were no water features...






In October, the 400,000 litres of fuel we had used since February was transferred from the lower fuel farm to the upper fuel farm, refuelling the generators and keeping the power on and our rooms heated for a while longer!


The line was connected...


And rolled out...


Ready for the five 90,000 litre tanks to be filled up again!





It took 24 hours for all the fuel to be pumped so the station worked through the day and night making sure everything was going well and keeping an eye out for any spills.

Next up is King Zuke... the winner of the Antarctic zucchini growing competition. Weighing in at 4.5 kgs and almost half a metre long, it was a true beast of a vegetable and the tale of the great green one was featured in icy news -

At Casey there is a jungle... and in this jungle there are untold numbers of wild things that roam. Some of these things are so wild, they can't be tamed. Others say the horse whisperer once tamed some of these things and took them deep under the ice. They say he lives there now, slowly plotting against the dog whisperer who took his fame and fortune many moons ago. They say that the dog whisperer never even really whispered, that he just used the untapped powers of "You'll Love Coles" dog snacks to bend the will of innocent puppies and improve his T.V. ratings. Nonetheless, the point of this tale remains, that the Casey jungle is a place of roaming for wild things. For if you are a wild thing, what else is there but to roam?

Lately, however, there have been rumours and murmurings afoot. Dark tales and whispers of strange tidings coming from the jungle. Stories told by the few brave souls at Casey who dare tread the wandering paths between the foliage. They tell of a new order amongst these wild things, that they are no longer content to merely roam! It is spoken softly in hushed whispers, beside dark corners, that they are searching for a more meaningful existence! An existence that aimless roaming can no longer provide! They are beginning to hunger for more! For dart boards and pool tables! For a selection of DVD and VHS movies! For Arnott's BBQ Shapes! For endless supplies of roll-on deodorant and AIM toothpaste! For free home brew and roast dinners! They even have knowledge of Mi Goreng noodles, the holy grail of noodle products in Antarctica. A noodle product with five flavour sachets that dwarfs Maggi noodles in all ways that matter - flavour, texture, and M.S.G. content! The wild things have an extensive, well catalogued list, and know exactly where to find the bounty they seek! In the Casey red shed and the home of the innocent wintering expeditioners of the 62nd ANARE.

Most of the unsuspecting winterers choose not to believe these tales, however, in doing so, they also choose to be blinded to the truth. They say it is impossible for wild things to no longer be content with simple roaming, that it is not in their nature. What need could they possibly have for AIM toothpaste, it is asked. However, they do not know of the seed. The seed that was planted during the dark and cold Antarctic winter, a time we shall not dare to speak of even in this tale. From this seed came a prince, and this prince grew up alone while his brothers and sisters mysteriously disappeared around him. He grew large and was mocked by the others in the jungle. His rage and anger built and in time he grew so large that the mocking stopped. By this time he was changed and thought differently from the other wild things. He began to look down upon their roaming, and spoke, quietly at first, of forming a jungle kingdom! He demanded they call him King Zuke and in time convinced them his plan had merit. First a kingdom and then a red shed he said! He filled their heads with great plans of conquering an entire continent, followed by the entire world! One small step for plants, one giant leap for Zucchini-kind he told them! And they believed and were taken in by his words! By this time he was simply too powerful and mighty to refuse! And right now, as the ink dries on this page, the wild things have ceased their roaming, and are instead beginning to mass for an assault.

There is still yet hope for the winterers of the 62nd ANARE, a few have been convinced of the truth and are forming a small rebellion. Plans are in place to stem the tide of the wild things from the jungle. However, who will do battle with King Zuke, the great green one as he is known by his enemies! Who will dare challenge a monster that weighs over six million, billion kilograms and stands at over eighty-five thousand feet tall? Is it possible that the neighbouring kingdoms of Davis, Mawson and Macca could possibly have their own giant zucchinis? Zucchinis who were raised in a nurturing and caring environment and would fight on our side. Surely this would be impossible! Even if they managed to combine all three of their zucchinis, how could they prevail against six million, billion kilograms of green vegetable? No, it is only us who will answer the call, and answer we must! On the 5th of October (the official closing date of the giant zucchini growing competition) we will stand and fight... for King Zuke is not the only one who hungers. We also hunger, and will carve our enemies into nutritious zucchini slices or see no tomorrow!
[I think someone needs to come home - Ed]

And just a few random pics from over the year -


























































































That's it for today! 29 days to go, the countdown begins now! Can't f*cking wait! Adios amigos!

Birds don't really excite me much but on Sunday I went for a walk to pass another long summer day (24 hours of light now) and see the Snow Petrels nesting. They have the most southerly breeding distribution of any bird and have been spotted as far down as the South Pole. While not quite as satisfying as a Weddell Seal on the spit, they do make for a tender appetiser. So here's a few pics for all the bird lovers that I'm sure read this blog...








Try and spot the Petrel, you would struggle to find them without the scientific markings on the rocks. No wonder they're considered a delicacy!

Better late then never, here are some pics of the second Hercules C-130 landing at the skiway. They don't waste any time, the whole show is over in about 30 mins, in and out just like clockwork...


#1 - Flyby...


#2 - Final approach...


#3 - Touchdown...


#4 - Taxi to the Casey domestic terminal and bus station...


#5 - Unload passengers...





#6 - Refuel...


#7 - Unload cargo...


#8 - Take the token Antarctic photo in front of the herc...


#9 - Prepare for takeoff...





#10 - Time to leave the country town of Casey and back to the big smoke of McMurdo...

What a weird feeling! Me, Tim and Nic were just laughing about it when all the summerers were standing around getting the induction talk, like wtf is going on!?!?  Haha is this real?  Eight months of nothing and then bang, plane lands, and it's all on in a second!  I had to line up to get into the red shed!  Ridiculous!  It was a little bit of nervous excitement at first but all good now and I got some new Tracks mags too so that was the highlight of the day haha.  And it's already November, so next month I'll be home. It doesn't seem possible that eleven months ago I was in the exact same situation, walking in for the first time and talking to the old winterers.  And now I've become the old winterer talking to the new winterers!  Even with seven weeks to go It feels like the year is over already.  And there's still one more flight to come tomorrow.

On the fifth attempt the big bird finally landed on station at 11:57am today. The bus is on it's way down the hill right now... What a strange sight watching a plane fly overhead less than an hour ago!

If the weather goes according to plan, in less than 24 hours we could have forty-nine new people walking around station with a goofy look of confusion and excitement I'm sure I had last December! I can't believe our eight months of isolation from the world is over and how fast it has all flown by. There were a few patches throughout the winter where it seemed like it seemed like this day was so far away, and time was going in slow motion. For the most part though, the year has just been one big awesome blur racing past at a million miles an hour. And going by last summer, the next eight weeks are going to be gone in a flash and I'll be sitting on the deck at Tugun, after a day at the beach with a cold brew in my hand. Man! The final step of this whole journey is here. Looking forward to the next eight weeks and coming home! We had our last weekly meeting today, and will have our last roast tonight and then it's all over. Our crazy little Antarctic bubble society will be popped. It was such a strange feeling when everyone left and the place was a ghost town and that was only after three months. This is eight months of a ghost town suddenly turning into a station riot! Craziness... it will be good to catch up with some of the people I met last summer, and feel the spirit of Splinter's Bar in full force again.

Well the tables have been rearranged, the airbus has arrived at McMurdo, and the nametags are up on the board so it's time to play the waiting game.

 
It would be fun visiting McMurdo on the way through...


Thaaarrr they aarrr!  I'm pretty excited right now!

A few days after the last trip to Browning we headed back down again and this time saw newborn seal pups! There was about twenty of them lying around on the ice, what an awesome thing to see! I wish I could take one home. Feed it tuna and take it for walks along the beach. Here's some pics, so furry and cute -





















Apart from that, we also found an iceberg with a cool tunnel going right through the middle of it. We definitely didn't walk through though, and there definitely wasn't an icy slippery slide on the other side.  Even if we did, we definitely didn't slide down it cause it definitely wasn't a lot of fun!


See that little ice cube there?


Apparently it wasn't there last time so it must have fallen down recently... pain if it landed on your head!

And a few of us climbed Teigan Island which was good, it's not a huge climb but you have to go up a fairly steep face for a while. There is one sketchy bit with slippery snow, and we had to cut little steps into it with our feet. The views were awesome though and we signed our names in the time capsule.


That's a quad down there...


Exactly one year after they climbed it last year... except Barry got the date wrong and it was actually the 12th :|

That's all for now, U.S. Airforce Hercules arrives in five days and we had our big end of winter dinner celebrations last Saturday night.  So it's all over for the winter pretty much... looking forward to seeing new faces after eight months of isolation.

There was only a few over on Shirley Island ten days ago but there are probably heaps more now. It was weird seeing only three, compared to last time when there were hundreds of them. I might go back again this weekend if there isn't a blizzard. Or just wait 'till the summerers get here in a week or so, that's usually the first thing everyone wants to do when they first arrive in Antarctica. No idea why? They're just penguins, what's the big deal? Haha It's good to have the funny little fellas back around station!



King of the rock...


Whaaaat are you?


Not sure how long that nest will last when all your thieving penguin mates come and it's a free for all... it seems to have taken all the rocks within a 20m radius.


Stupid humans...


Clean shaven again... someone said to me after I shaved that I couldn't go home without a beard so I might try to arrive home with one and shave it off a few days later.


I seem to be missing my lucky egg...


"I peck if you come any closer..."

TWO MONTHS TO GO!  Who's counting though?