My time has come to leave this place, and head back to Christchurch. Overall, I have to say that this place is pretty amazing. It's unique, harsh, and beautiful all at the same time. Outside the confines of 'Mac Town,' you can find yourself in a peaceful surrounding with refreshingly clean air, crisp blue skies (with no contrails), and a quietness to still your soul. Mountains (and volcanos) rise in the distance, and demonstrate thier majesty to all who view. the layering of clouds form various strata in the cold dry air. Winds almost always originate out of the south and have a cold to them that can penetrate the smallest of opening in fabric exposed to it. To have come here in the early 1900's as Scott and Amundsen had done most have been breath taking.
Life in town is a different story, muddy, wet streets leave me wishing for gaiters where I go, so as not to get my pant legs dirty. The "dirt" is ground volcanic rock that forms a dust that blows everywhere in the wind. With no ogranics present in it, abrasive and sharp, it's like a course rough sand running through your fingers. Think of those lava rocks you can buy to put in your gas grill... now just think of those rocks, in the sizes varrying from small stones to a fine dust. There's almost the constant drone of an engine running somewhere, vechicles moving people or equipment. Helicoptors inbound or outbound to a field camp, carying cargo beneath, science equipment, people, or both. The smell of burnt Jet fuel (JP-8) diesel and gasoline lingers low to the ground in the cold air. The streets are busiest during the day time, but night never really ever comes, with the sun circling overhead, making a complete cycle every 86,400 seconds. The oportunity to enjoy the outdoors can never be excused to the lack of light. Instead, its excused by the lack of energy.
The community here is tight, not perhaps in terms of the relational connectedness of all the inhabitants, but in terms of the quaters in which all 1200 of us live. Eating facilities are comunal, as are the bathrooms, depending on your housing situation. You are rooming with at least one other person, but potentially up to 5 others. There's a curse that lingers around station called "the Crud." With every new arrival of a plane and its contents, comes the introduction of a new Crud varient. It comes with runny noses, caughing, pains and general feelings of blah. Can one avoid it? Your only defense is good heigene. Wash your hands before you do anything, especially eating. Wash your hands after you do anything, especially when it involves handling surfaces that others have handled. But at the same time conserve water, its expensive here. Only 4 showers a week, but feel lucky, because at the South Pole, you only get 2, 4 minute showers a week.
The people are friendly, and willing to help, but you can't be shy. If you wish to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, you can do that here too. News and information must be sought after, should you wish to stay connected. Rules and Regulations from up high prohibit certian items and activities that are otherwise allowed in the states, but theres a strong "underground" community that knows how to get things done, you just have to ask the right people. Those people are usually those that have been around for a while. Is with the rest of the world, your success can depend a lot on "who or what you know."
So anyway, after all that, I'll return to what I was previously saying. Tomorrow I'm supposed to fly back. The end of my trip is starting to sound a lot like the beginning. The posibility of not actually getting on a plane tomorrow is significant. While it is apparently a rarity to see delays on this end, this time of year, Murphey has made herself known. A C-17 was supposed to fly out with passengers (PAX) today, and was going to be the last C-17 flight for a while). This meant we would be flying a slow, noisy flight back on an LC-130 tomorrow. I've heard the 8 hour flight in an LC-130 in the military style cargo seating is about anything but enjoyable. Well, turns out the C-17 had mechanical problems in Christchurch and never made it here. So, those C-17 PAX now have a higher priority than us to take our plane out of here. Which means we could be delayed. However, there is the posibility the C-17 gets fixed, and flys here tomorrow, and then we are on its return trip back to Christchurch, we just arrive later. The flight however would only be 5 hours long, be less packed full of people, and a bit quieter. So in the end, it could turn out for the better. Here's to hoping so.
Once I arrive in Christchurch, I'm to remain there until December 19th, when I finish out my flights in commercial jetliners, straight back to Denver (via Aukland and Los Angelas) The interesting thing is I will be landing on the same day I leave, thanks to crossing over the international date line again, despite flying through the night. Once there I get to figure out how I get home from the airport, as I really have not yet arranged anything, but that's fairly trivial. I'll be glad to be home a few days earlier than planned, and better yet, ready to enjoy the 2 weeks vacation I have scheduled through the holidays.
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