Sail Today!

Sailing out at 4PM, probably won't get a chance to update the blog for about 2 weeks.  Should have some good photos to share.
Praying that the weather is good for smooth sailing.

5 Days to Go!

Woke up this morning to another great day in Hobart.  Blue skies and sunny, 10 in the shade, 20 in the sun.
Yesterday morning nearly killed myself in an attempt to run up Mount Wellington via the national park tracks.  Only made it up 3/4 of the way.  It aint no Castle Hill.  It was predicted to snow up there yesterday!

Not sure what is in store for us the next few days but the Casey guys will be half way to McMurdo by now on their cruisy Airbus flight. 

My Family will arrive on Wednesday to see me off on Friday.  Hopefully I will have all of Thursday to spend with them.  Unfortunately due to security reasons there is no more access for Family to the Wharf to see you off.  It was tradition to hold a streamer from people on the ship to people on the wharf as you departed.  They will have to be satisfied with a BBQ lunch. 

From Friday it will be near impossible to update this blog due to very limited access to the internet on the ship.  It will be about 2 weeks before I will get a chance to place a new post.

This pic below (thanks to Charmaine) was the first day at the AAD.

More Training

This week at the AAD we have been doing predeparture training.  This covers a range of subjects, such as radios, firefighting, camp stoves, OH&S and Survival.
I have heaps of photos that I want to attach with the blog, but I will need to buy a memory stick to transfer from my computer to work's computer.   The next post should have some.  I have included one of the AADs photos below for a little more colour.
Tomorrow I will be doing Quad bike training.  Should be a little more exciting than subjects such as OH&S.

Most of the guys heading to Casey will be flying out early Monday morning on the Airbus flight to McMurdo.  McMurdo is a big US station with over a thousand people and pretty much a small town.    They get the chance to spend a few days there before flying on a Herc to Wilkins and then on to Casey.  I am very envious of them, but I am still happy to be sailing on the Aurora Australis directly to Davis.  I am told that is a much better experience and the best way to get to Antarctica.  I just hope that we have smooth sailing all the way.

Arrival at AAD (Kingston)

Time flies when you are having fun and almost a week has flown passed since my last post.  Arrived in Hobart Sunday night to a beautiful 10 degrees.

The AAD centre in Kingston is much bigger than I expected.  The centre is buzzing with a lot of keen expeditioners ready to sail or flyout. I have met all 5 comms operators.  3 are of them are heading to Casey though.  With Belinda and myself heading to Davis.

On Monday we had a visit to the Clothing Store.  It felt like Christmas, there was so many goodies to take home.  We now have all of our clothing ready to take on -40 (hopefully not).

Today we will be reading and studying for our Marine Radio Operator License.

Getting Close Now!

My last day today at my regular job and only 3 days left before flying down to Hobart.  I'll spend about two and half weeks in Kingston which is just outside of Hobart doing some field training with the Australian Antarctica Division (AAD).
 
Still waiting on my new Laptop to be delivered.  Only have one more day left for it to be delivered! Here's hoping it gets here in time!