The Journey part 2

OK so now I have had a change of plans (read: I'm getting lazy). Here are a few of my favourite shots, followed by a short explanation of each. Aren't I just the cleverest thing?


Here are some penguins on an iceberg. Bet you didn't guess that one! This shot was taken on the trip through Iceberg Alley. Jump you little bastards!!! One day I was looking out of one of the bedroom windows, just watching the world go by, when I heard an "oi, Brendan" call. Figuring it wasn't a mermaid or penguin, I looked around to see Jeremy about 10 rooms down also doing the same thing, except with his you-beaut camera. Completely unplanned, but now much copied, this is my favourite photo of me.

This may be one of my least favourite. Nah just kidding. This was after I had paid homage to King Neptune. As we crossed the 60 degree south line, we had to ask for permission from His Highness to enter his realm. First we had to kiss his fish which was presented to us by his lovely wife (who looked alot like the deputy voyage leader in a grass skirt and coconut shell bikini), and then kiss his foot, whilst being stamped, covered in Vegemite and penguin poo (which was a whole lot of flour, water, food colouring, baked beans and god only knows what else). The showering afterwards was interesting - no water pressure, no hot water and being covered in what turned out to be glue. I pity the people who had long hair...

like these two. Bonnie and Lisa (along with everyone else with long hair) spent the next couple of days picking it out of their hair. Some of the guys were OK, as the charity head shave had been done the night before!

Once we hit large amounts of ice, the conditions calmed down incredibly. This shot was taken on a particularly good day, showing the clarity of sky and sea.

The calm conditions also allowed for some other interesting photo opportunities. This is me hanging out of the bow, the hole only big enough to squeeze and arm and my head out, so I found a bigger hole...
so I could fit more of me out! This is on the starboard side, just behind the pointy bit. This was much more comfortable, so much so that I figured I should take a photo whilst hanging out, and here is the result...

Here you see Nigel, Chris, Kate, Lisa, Brad and Nick trying to figure out what the hell I am doing. Jump you little bastards!!!

I guess this is why we went down in an icebreaker.

The pointy bit is also the strong bit.At the end of a long trip, I had some very mixed emotions about arriving here at Davis. On one hand I was very excited to finally get here. On the other, I was very apprehensive as to what the next 12 months had in store for me. I was also sad to be leaving some of the guys who I had spent the last 2 months training with in Hobart who were going on to Casey. It was also very sad to be leaving some wonderful people who I had met and spent a lot of time with on the ship. What made it even worse was the fact that I was well down on the fly off list, and assumed that I wouldn't be getting off till after going to the Chinese base, but of course things went very well with moving people on station and I barely had time to grab my bags, let alone say a proper goodbye to everyone I wanted to. So to everyone who was on board with me - GOODBYE! I wish you all the best for the coming seasons, be it the summer or the winter, and I really hope to catch up with some of you again - especially the other members of the cool kids gang. I'll see you again someday. I'm trying to talk Cookie into letting me hitch a ride to Casey with one of the planes, but I'm not holding my breath!

Once I had gotten into the chopper, I was very excited about my first flight. Unfortunately it was too short, as the AA had managed to park very close to station. It only took about 2 minutes to get on land, and this was probably the best aerial shot of Davis I managed to get. Where's all the white stuff???

After a few hectic days of change over the AA had returned from the Chinese base, to finish cargo ops, deliver the rest of the summer team, and take home the previous winterers. As a send off, a few of us found some out of date flares (my, that was convenient!) and waved farewell to our friends on board. That's it Mum, I'm locked in now, the ship is gone. The next time we see this sight (March), that will be it for the winter team, all 18 of us, until about November. This time was some fun, not too sure about next time...