Geocaching

So before Linda left, she told me about something called Geocaching. It is treasure hunting with a GPS and there are caches hid all around the world. Her cousins were the ones who sent her the GPS and told her about the treasure hunting. She was curious to see if there were any in Antarctica so she pulled up the website and sure enough. There are over 40 caches hidden on the continent. One was actually right outside of McMurdo on one of the trials.

Deciding we wanted to play treasure hunters, off we went with GPS in hand, entering the coordinates and double checking our location. The actual place of the cache is not exact, it could be any where in a wide circle of ten to twenty feet of the ending point, so you're not led directly to the spot. The caches range in size from cigarette cartons to shoe boxes, so you really never know what you are looking for. People stash these hidden treasures away and then submit the coordinates to the website for others to come and find. You don't take the goods, just record that you found it, or sign the paper tucked in side saying who you are and when you found it. Even where you are from if you want.

I thought of you Dad, with your love for GPS. You should look it up and see about taking a hike with Mary to go "Treasure Hunting." You might even put the coordinates for the ARK on the sight and label it as a "large cache" so people can "find" Noah's Ark. Just a thought.

So as we followed the trail, our little white arrow got closer and closer to the red flag, till soon we were right on top of it. The final spot was at roll cage Mary, where there is a statue of Mary, protected by a roll cage, and mounted on top of a mound of rocks. Looking through the rocks, we found a little plastic bag with a tin container labeled Geocache. We'd discovered treasure!

Our Treasure Map

Getting Closer

Roll Cage Mary

View from Cache sight

We've Found it!

We opened it up to discover small trinkets, some loose change, and a ripped out piece of paper where people had signed their names. We added ours and then took pictures to document our find before returning it to its hiding place.

Opening the treasure tin

Leaving our mark

Found some snow along the way and stopped to play . . .

The whole experience was a blast, I've never really treasure hunted before, and now I want to go hiking more and find these caches. Who knows, maybe I'll even hide one.

Summer Season Winding Down

Summer Season coming to an end

Well the first of our crew has gone. Summer is officially over as people begin to adventure away on their travel plans. Linda, our Pack Leader, flew out on Friday while the next big flight of people is the 19th. It is exciting to hear where people are going and doing, but also to be staying behind. I've gotten all my necessary items from home, friends and family have sent me additional things that will make the winter a little warmer. Now if I could just find out where I'll be living I could settle in and brace myself for the coming months. I probably won't know till the end of next week when people start to clear out.

With things winding down there is little to write about. I did do a second Delta training where I actually drove out on the ice, did some doughnuts (really tight circles) and got more comfortable with the large orange machine. Love every minute and if I ever come back I want to be a shuttle driver. Other than that, it's been a quiet week of getting over the McMurdo crud.

This is also the last week of Mid-rats, then I transition back to days - become a day walker - and start into my winter shift. I've signed up for the AM (there are only four Dining Attendants and I'm the only morning one. I get to work by myself and listen to my own music while I work. Not much different from what I'm doing now, but no sandwiches, food prep or deadlines and that is good) so I'll start at 6am and be off by 4pm. I'm going to start an intense workout schedule and try to dominate the Biggest Loser Antarctica Competition.

I really can't believe that I'd already be getting ready to leave if I wasn't wintering. Time really passed fast and I'm glad I get to stay. I just didn't get enough of this place, and I'm sure once October rolls around I'll be ready to leave, but right now I'm happy, content and living the Antarctic Dream.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, and Mom Happy Birthday. I wish I could be there to celebrate, but I know Dad will take good care of you and treat you well. Know that I am thinking of you on your special day and sending prayers, love and hugs to you. May God continue to watch over, guide and protect you. I love you and miss you.

Delta Training

So you know how I've been going on and on about wanting to drive a Delta. Well . . . I CAN!!! I got Delta Training today because I am a winter over and they need people to drive them to the planes at last flight and then at Winfly in August. It was so cool. I've never driven anything so big and now I want to do truck driver training when I get home! Maybe a new professional calling in life. It was different, because it is so big you have to turn way before you're used to and then stop turning before you think you should. My trainer was Geoff, way cool and very knowledgeable. He was a DA his first year as well and then has been in shuttles the last four years. He went over everything with me and then I got to drive around town and to Scott's Base. There wasn't any traffic being a night shift run so the whole road was mine and I took it. Well that's my excitement of the week. I have one more training session to do to prove that I understood everything we did the first time and then I am officially trained. Wow, Me. A Delta Driver. Hurray!!!

Penguin in Action

When I got back from R and R the penguin was still there. Here are a few more photos of the little guy and even some action footage.

Last Day of R and R

So the day I was supposed to leave I had some time so I decided to track down this flower clock I kept reading about. I imagined something like Big Ben, made out of flowers like a rose parade float. I kept circling the same area looking, and looking until finally after checking the map for the third time I found it. By looking down. I guess this is my Rose Parade for the new year . . . .

The clock does keep accurate time and tones of flowers year round are planted to keep it "flowered". In the same park there was this cool fountain that I just had to take a picture of.

So that evening I left nature, dirt, dogs, children and old people behind to return to the cold Ice and my home till October. It was a nice break, but I spent way too much money, drank way to much milk, and loved every minute of it to regret anything. Can't wait to come back and do it all again!

Christchurch ~ R and R ~ Third Day

So today I got out of Christchurch. Took public transportation to the Gondola. It was great getting out and being independent. Riding with the other locals was amusing because you always wondering where they are going, what lives they are leading, and what it must be like to be from New Zealand. The ride up the Gondola was beautiful, with all the landscape unfolding around you the higher you got.

I even saw wild life . . . .

Once you reach the top there is a shop, a cafe and a cute ride that took you through the "history of the Lyttelton City" below. It is a natural harbor town with a history of seafaring and the Maori culture. I chose to hike down to the city and the trail was beautiful but steep, around a 75% angle.

Start of the trail . . . . looks a little rustic

Looking back up where the gondola building is from a quarter down the trail

It was a beautiful walk all the way down and then I strolled through the small town looking for some good fish and chips. I asked around and was recommended this place . . .

I chose from the wrong menu and got the frozen fish and chips. Only after I was sitting down, waiting, did I realize there were two menus and the second one was the fresh catch of the day. Oh well. So after I ate my frozen fish, I strolled the small town, stopped into the organic store and then started the trek back up.

Doesn't look steep, but trust me it was

First mistake, not waiting for my food to settle. So panting before I even reach the trail head, I make it up about one quarter of the way and then stop to catch my breath. Already I feel like I'm going to throw up having eaten and then decided to hike a mountain. Second I've run out of water and am starting to get thirsty. So a second group of people pass by me and then something strange happens. All that is white gets really bright, like a you pushed up the light switch and the light spills outside the borders of the object and my body starts to feel heavy. Then the lights are turned down and the shadows take over getting darker and darker. Soon all that is left is the outlines, like when you stare at something bright for long time, then close your eyes and all you see is the red fainted image that once was.

I was about to black out. This was the only thing I could think. Here on this trail, I'm going to black out and then what? Will someone come along? Not here, I kept chanting in my head. I won't black out. Raising a lead heavy arm I reached for my sunglasses thinking it might help with the strange vision problem and giving me something to do. It helped a little, or maybe the distraction did, I'm not sure. Standing there feeling weighted, I looked out at the horizon and told myself I wasn't going to black out. Slowly my vision corrected itself and I felt myself again. Looking up the trail, to the building I debated on continuing. Could I do it? I pushed on, not wanting to surrender to the challenge of the hike, skittish at what may happen but refusing to give up. I went another 100 feet and thought, is it really worth it? I found a cement bench, took a seat and debated with myself. Finally going down won, and I rode the bus back. I'm going back though, when I get off the Ice and doing it again. This time from the bottom up. That mountain doesn't have me licked. I'm going to beat it. I will.

So this is what happen on my third day of R and R . . . .

Sick ~ ugh

I'll write more when feeling better. Sorry :(