Click on images below for
pop-ups with larger images.
 

1. Unloading at Rothera

2. Remembrance

3. Rothera Scenery

4. Marko taking a rest

5. Quizzical Weddell seal

6. Sleeping Weddel seal

7. Our plane arrives

8. The runway

From: Graham Quartly
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:36
Subject: Delivering the goods

We reached Rothera (the ship's destination) a few days ago. Whilst we have been having a fairly "relaxed" time (finishing data analysis, writing a report, and packing away all our equipment) the ship's crew have been very busy loading and unloading all manner of goods from the fore and aft holds. This has included the delivery of a large JCB to help with the work on Rothera.

It also included the receipt of 80-100 barrels of waste. Under international agreement all countries should remove all their broken equipment, effluent and general rubbish to maintain the Antarctic in a pristine condition. The most alarming moment was when the Master announced on the intercom that they were about to "discharge" explosives...

...which he quickly amended to "unload". (The explosives are to be used for seismic work to study the geological strata in the area.)

Since arrival, I have been making a daily trip around the headland, admiring the icebergs in the distance, the rocky islands sprouting from the sea, and of course the penguins and seals. The seals seem to spend a lot of time lying on the snow sleeping, with the occasional snore or flaring of the nostrils.

Various parts of the headland are out of bounds, either as a protected nature study area, or to prevent people's cameras and phones from interfering with sensitive measuring equipment.

I always get to the top of the hill, where there's a lovely view over the cove where the James Clark Ross is berthed. This region is topped by a cross and plaques commemorating the various scientists who have lost their lives during their work in this beautiful but somewhat dangerous environment.

Graham