BIKE MARATHON - sunday 20 january

"Biking a marathon in Antarctica"

Today's the day and the weather played its part. Blue sky, no wind, and a big bright and warm sun.

I geared up in thermals, grabbed a banana and hit the road - well so to speak!. I must say it's an incredibly unique feeling riding on ice, I guess it felt like I was walking a tight rope, one false move or unbalance and you're kissing the ground. I actually experienced that yesterday on my trial bike ride. The tyre caught a groove in the snow and sure enough my bike and I took a slide. A very long slide. I remember looking at my watch half way through wondering if I was ever going to stop. Fortunately that was the only crash I’d have over the two days.

I can seriously say Antarctica has to be the best continent for cycling. It was such a moving experience, one I’ll not forget in a hurry. I biked my 26.5 mile marathon in around 2 and a half hours. (my friend dave lent me his gps) I stayed on the bike and rode next to some of my friends who were running. I ended up biking a distance of 72km, and raised $800 for the SPCA. Thanks so much everyone for your support. It was greatly appreciated.

RUGBY - Sunday 13 january 2008

McMurdo vs Scott Base. The day is here.

The sun shone. The snow was groomed. The posts were erected.

The crowd eagerly gathered on the sideline, and watched as players tucked in their thermals, pulled on their beanies and neck warmers. Months of training boiled down to this day. 80 minutes of the coldest, most southern game of rugby.

I listened intently as the American national anthem was sung through a megaphone, promptly followed by the ice breaking kiwi haka.

The whistle blew and the game begun.

The snow covered players from head to toe making it interesting to pick out which team held the ball.

The final score was 12-0 to the kiwis.

I dressed up for the game. The left side of my body was kiwi, and the right side of my body was American. I held both an American and kiwi flag.

A BUNCH OF HAPPY WORKERS

My fantastic crew of fire preventers.

I took this photo - encase you were looking for me for over 5 minutes!

ODEN ICEBREAKER – friday 11 january

There is a sweedish icebreaker ship called "the oden" currently breaking its way into McMurdo. It is hired each year to bash a channel through the ice for the various ships we get into town. I might add at a cost much greater than the small change in your pocket. (A little over 12 mill!) I volunteered to be a line handler too, so that'll be another new experience.

30 PENGUINS & A SNOW STORM - thursday 10 january

It's a chilly day today and the penguins agree. At midnight 30 Adelie penguins waddled into McMurdo to hunker down for the night. Being at work, we started convincing our Captain that it was a good idea to go and see them, "crowd control maybe?" 10 minutes later five of us piled into the ambo and headed through the snow drifts down to the pier.

I wanted to give them my duvet.

DODGEBALL - wednesday 9 january

Dodgeball finals tonight. Unfortunately because of my back I couldn't play in our team. But they sure did everyone proud.
3 tough hours, 3 tough games all ended in victory. Well done "dave's team". The dodgeball champions.

MEDIVAC - tuesday 8 january

I spent 9 hours on the ice today. Six of our crew had driven out to Pegasus runway to hardstand for a c-17 flight arriving from Christchurch. Whilst in transition, a snow mobile accident occurred out at Minnow Bluff. The c-17 was asked to standby encase he needed to be flown to NZ. We watched as the helicopter flew overhead on route to evacuate the patient. 3 hours later we were transferring him by stretcher from the helicopter onto the plane. He had a head laceration and broken ankle.

Kiakaha and get well soon.