A trip to the new Indian Base

 Flying adjacent the the ocean as it slowly starts to freeze with winter approaching. Our destination was 120km from our base. You can see the ship moored in the harbour of the Indian Base base getting ready to sail for home that night.

 The choppers (our taxi service) landing at the Indian Base.

 It was a hyde of activity as the last of the cargo heading home was being loaded on the ship.

 The new base a bit like the spaceship Enterprise from Star Trek.

 The ship.

More ship and background. The harbour is very deep which works out well  as the ships can park up close unlike Davies which have to stay out some 2km.

 The chopper landing on the ship.

 A view from the deck on top of the new building.

 A different angle at the same location.

 Heading home.

 Heading home.

 Heading home.

Back at base with the sun setting. Was a great day checked out the all the plant rooms that make the building function including power generation, waste water, heating and fresh water. Our host's where very accommodating and treated us with some local snacks and drinks.

The Auroa's and Lidar beam ( pictures from Tim New )

Winter on the way and seals

 Elephant seals doing not to much.

Sea ice is starting to form.

 Catching a seal to tag and place a recording device.

 A seal just chilling.

Sea ice forming just about as you watch.

The same seal chilling in the distance.

 Weighing the seal it was a small one only 565 kg.

Getting ready to roll the seal after being sedated.

 More seals.

 Random working on the roof.

 Letting this bully who is the boss.

The tracking device in place stuck to the fur with some epoxy. The seals have been recorded diving to depths of 2000 metres

Boating of Davis

Our fury little friends  baby's only born this season.

Got back from fishing the weekend and a opportunity came up to go out in the boat's after dinner.
Felt like just chilling but i say don't let a opportunity go by.

All the water that we are boating on was frozen when we arrived. We went on walks, drove Quad bikes and Haggs not that so long ago.

From here on in the ocean will start to freeze up again and so the cycle goes.

Let the pictures tel the storey.

Gone fishing

      

Dropped off at a Island with a small Hut called Bandit's for the weekend. On a mission some may say impossible.

 Have plenty of supplies including some prime beef rib eye defrosting on the deck next to the door.

Late afternoon about the only spot on the island that had open water from the rocks ideal to throw a line in.
It happened to be at the extreme opposite end from our camp site about a 15 minute hike across the terrain.

One line out.

Have a bit of structure sorted with a other line out and a cold beer.  Life is good if i
 catch a fish that will be a bonus.

 Taking in the surroundings being patient. No rush have all the time in the world.

 Surprise, surprise yes that is a fish.

On the way back to camp one side the sun is setting.

 And the other the moon is up and about.

Back at the fishing hole the next day, trying to get a feed, the weather had turned it would have been warmer in the water with the water being minus 2.

 Just ask these pair, managed a double hook up, could see them shivering unhooked them gave a kiss and sent them back before they froze.

Next morning off to Vestfold Hills for some SAR training.

 Being dropped off.

And then heading home. Great weekend the steak ate up well be glad to get back to base to rest up for what ever is next.