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We are slowly heading towards the open lead only 500m ahead of us. It's incredibly slow going ramming back and fore into ice that's an average of 6m thick, and between 15 and 20m in places.
Since leaving ice station 8 yesterday evening we have managed 250 rams and made about three ship lengths (300m). If we're lucky the last hundred or so meters will peel off when we get closer, releasing the ship at last.
We have not been idle onboard. Scientists and support staff are finishing experiments and packing up ready for the ocean crossing.
Earlier today we retrieved and replaced a buoy at ice station 6, a few miles behind us. The aircraft are currently undertaking a RAPPLS (Radar, Aerial Photography, Pyrometer, Laser Scanner) flight and will return to the ship to refuel before flying a reconnaissance flight.
Cheers
Andy, Brett
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.