Well the blue skies have been absent for the last couple of weeks, and we have had complete cloud cover, all day and all night. Of course as it never gets dark its just grey the whole time. The temperatures have dropped to a steady -5 but when we get any sort of breeze, it’s pretty cold.
The poor visibility has wreaked havoc with the running programรขโฌยฆรขโฌยฆรขโฌยฆ with no contrast it is impossible to see where you’re feet are going and the perimeter track varies from hard, rutted ice to ankle deep soft mush. Not so good, and last Monday I finished 4 laps (20kms) with quite sore ankles. I’ve been running with Deano as he has been thinking of doing the Halley Marathon , a run of 8 รยฝ laps (26 miles and a bit) for charity. All the events (Quiz, pool comp etc) have been for the 2 charities.
Details can be found at: www.justgiving.com/halleyscomics
On Wednesday I managed another 20kms and today I’ve done 5 laps (25kms), so I might do the marathon myself. It will be a slow time given the condition of the participant, not the course!
On the work side of things, the modules are gradually coming together, and the first 2 (the science modules) will be towed to the Halley 6 site in a weeks time. (15kms away). Not too much else to report on the work front except that we nearly lost one of the modules to a fire on the loading bay. This was caused by the smokers having one of their many breaks and not putting the tab out properly. Smoking is now banned anywhere on site and only allowed outside the accommodationรขโฌยฆรขโฌยฆรขโฌยฆรขโฌยฆ productivity has gone up!!
We have had a visit from a twin otter plane, to collect post, but more importantly to find a NASA weather satellite that crashed about 100km away. They have found it and the yanks are coming on Tuesday to pick up the bits.
Still on the weather, this morning I did the weather balloon launch. As the build is going on there isn’t too much science happening at the base, there is usually a dozen scientists carrying out all types of tests and experiments, but the weather monitoring and the monitoring of the ozone hole have continued.
The weather balloon is launched full of helium and measures the temperature, humidity and has a GPS to give altitude and position. It gets up to about 24 kms and expands to size of a double decker bus. Today, with the low clouds (2000 ft) it was gone in seconds.
Series - Antarctic Painting
- Polar Painting
- Journey South
- The Journey Continues; Iceberg Ahoy!
- Ice Ice Baby
- The Weddell Sea
- Nearly there!!
- Halley 6 : On The Ice
- All Work and No Play
- Different Shades of Grey
- Racing Penguin
- The Move Begins
- Moving Postcard from Antarctica
- Winter approaches
- The Halley Marathon
- The Final Week
- The Journey North
- Antarctic Painting – Year 3
- Antarctic Demolition
Wow, “Shades of Grey” sounds like it’s been dull down there, but it’s nothing like that is it!
Greetings Grimmo, from me, Mary, Terry, and Penny. Having a late Xmas ‘do’ and bringing the wrinklies up to date on your progress. Think my Dad’s on the next plane !!!! Need a hired hand ? ….. R,M,T, and P. PS: Planning the Great Glen Way in September!
Hi Ian – this is Frances from John’s walking group. Anna told us about your big adventure when we were out on Saturday and I asked her for the blog details. It looks absolutely amazing – what an experience! I love all the pictures. Hope it continues to go well.
The Grimshaw contemplating a marathon?! I reckon the greyness must be getting to you…
Nice shot of the plane on runway by the way – good feeling of a vast expanse of nothingness!
Keep safe, and happy 21st for tomorrow!
ian
wishing you a very merry day tommorow ! do you get an alcohol allowance?
do you get extra chocolate tommorow?
i am very impressed with the marathon idea – have you needed your spikes?
lol and glad to see you got a balloon for your birthday just like piglet
sarah
Pete’s absolutely right – it doesn’t look at all tedious to us back at home. It would be great to see a bus sized balloon.
Happy birthday for tomorrow ๐
There you are… I was beginning to wonder! Well sounds like you are having a wonderful time… here it is GREY too and we have NO balloons… ๐ hope you got the video we emailed you… it is our happy birthday card to YOU! ๐ I have only one card so far ๐ Really missing you… I know you never send me a card… but somehow knowing you can’t makes it feel slightly sad… Ho-hum…
Take care Ian… we all LOVE YOU and can’t wait to see you again… Cas, Steve, Emerald and Crystal xxxx
PS: Crystal is on a field trip wearing a huge pair of walking boots from Keswick! (Night walk tonight)!
I’ve just noticed (while eating my yummy ham and mustard lunch-time sandwich :yum: in sunny Kendal) that the guy doing the dry lining in the “werk” picture above has goggles pushed up on his helmet, and both guys also have thermal gloves on! Not normal PPE for this sort work is it? Must be the cold and bright environment. Isn’t the inside space of the working areas heated Ian?
The gloves are just thin ppe. It’s best to have goggles ready for going out of the modules as the glare is blinding… ๐ ๐
There are a few heaters about, but until the generators in the Energy modules are commissioned and the modules are linked, it can get a bit chilly, especially when people tend to leave the door open!!! ๐ ๐