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We continued breaking our way West yesterday through often thick and broken ice. Lots of Crabeater seals lay around on the surface along with Adelie Penguins in small groups that at times appeared too close for their own comfort to the Leopard Seals we saw lazing about. In the afternoon the sun broke through and lit up the landscape and with good weather also reported at the Mawson end we stopped the ship and prepared to fly the helicopters off. Jeremy and Tyson, the helicopter engineers, coordinated rolling the aircraft out of the hangar onto the deck, fitting their rotor blades once again and preparing them to fly. From 70nm out we launched 2 aircraft to Mawson with mail, food and visiting expeditioners while the third did a reconnaissance of the ice to our South and found some promising leads. These leads were mapped by GPS for the ship to navigate through the night. By 8pm we had completed 5 flights to Mawson and continued breaking our way towards the coast. Overnight and under an Aurora in clear skies the ship made good progress to be 40nm from the station at first light. We then steamed through some truly spectacular country as the day dawned with the frozen sea crystal clear around too many ice bergs to count. The sun rose and lit the face of the bergs in a spectacular golden light as we glided by on our way South. Soon the Rocky peaks of Mt Henderson and the Framnes Mountains appeared and provided an aiming mark for us on the distant ice plateau. We can just see a turning wind turbine towering above the station. This morning we have again commenced flying with all three helicopters now ashore and about to return for more loads of cargo as we steam ever closer to the station. We are into it, and hoping the weather holds while the ice stays light! Yours Aye Robb and Simon
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.