Southward HO!

The team arrived all together in Christchurch on Saturday. Sunday consisted mainly in touring around and enjoying the things that we won't have the chance to enjoy for the next three months. We had a great day swimming at Taylor's mistake and hiking around the Port Hills, enjoying Chinese dinner, and watching the All Blacks beat Australia in the rugby world cup. 

Monday morning at 4:30 am we had to report for departure at the airport. It was early for all of us, but the prospect of our first trip to the "ice"on a commercial airliner (Airbus) had me excited. Though a departure from the exploratory days of Shakleton, Amundson, and the rest, the Airbus offered tea and coffee service, pleasant flight attendants, business class seating, and most important of all: windows. Generally we fly down on military aircraft that are window-free, and therefore a more difficult ride from which to enjoy the first views of Antarctica. 

We have been super busy with logistics, as our first team (Danny and Chris) is scheduled to depart for the Fosdicks on Tuesday. So we have to plan and pack for eleven weeks in just a few days time. That includes ski doos, fuel, food, camp equipment, maps, and personal things. We have our fingers crossed for good weather. 

Danny

Yummy food in Christchurch

The beach. We would have gone for a swim here at Sumner but the Christchurch septic system has been broken since the earthquake, and now the water is "somewhat" contaminated. Yikes!

Teambuilding at a Speight's Pub.

4:30 AM at the air terminal. The is the launching point for our trip to Antarctica, and where we will return to in a few months time.

Pre-flight briefing.

Tim and I managed to snag business-class seats

Tim Burton, mountaineer and subject of the commonwealth always enjoys a good cuppa tea

Pointed south

We'd never seen this before on a commercial airliner

Views of the Royal Society range as we descend into McMurdo. These peaks rise from sea level to 13,000 feet.

Getting picked up at the airstrip

Logistics, logistics, logistics. Planning food for 11 weeks.