365 @ 54°30' South: 2015-05-03

Friday 8 May 2015

May 1: Too windy for anything!

OK so it looked like a pretty rubbish day when I looked out of the window, but thought I'd stop making excuses and get out and about. With a plan to walk up Wireless Hill and take some photos of the new emergency Tsunami Shelter I headed off..... well I didn't even make it a third of the way up and was getting blown sideways off track. To take this pic I sat down on the track behind a rock..... the pic is just to prove I was there... and not every day is a day in paradise on Macca, well at least not weather wise. They do call it the furious fifties!

West side of Isthmus from Wireless Hill. Photo: Jacque Comery

April 30: Launching Weather balloons

Louise our BoM observer launching a weather balloon. Often a feat in these winds.. Photo Rich Youd

Thanks Rich for the pic...

April 29: King Penguins

King Penguins: Photo Jacque Comery

April 28: East coast walk back to Station

A beautiful day to finish a three day hike with. Snow on the hills, and penguins, elephant seals and fur seals at every turn.

Jacque and Anna walking past the King Penguin colony at Sandy Bay. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Jac and Anna and the Nuggests in the distance. Photo: Andrea Turbett

April 27: Brothers Point Hut

After a long walk cross country from west to east cost of the Island, we arrived at Brother Point to the awesome "smartie" or "googie" hut for night 2. I like to call it the spaceship hut. I giggled all night, I was so excited to sleep in this hut. It is like a giant cubby house. I totally want one of these to live in. It is powered by a solar and wind generator system, with a generator for back up, and a hand water pump. We have every type of food you could think of, loads of books and of course radios and sat phones. All you could dream of. The toilet has a great view of the beach.. well it is the beach.... shovel, beach, seals and head torch...say no more.

Pre-dinner reading whilst Anna cooks up a storm. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Catching the hail bouncing in through the roof. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Brother Point Hut. Photo: Anna Lashko

April 26: The Island Lake Track

My first trip on foot over the plateau to Bauer Bay with Rangers Andrea and Anna. The terrain up here is so windblown that only the smallest most rugged plants can grow.

Andrea and Jacque on the Island Lake Track. Photo: Anna Lashko

April 25: ANZAC Day

Flags at half mast. Photo : Rich Youd

In the bracing winds we commemorated the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day, with a Dawn Memorial Service followed by brunch and an afternoon BBQ.

Expeditioners Dawn Service. Photo: Rich Youd

Shotgun breakfast. Photo: Rich Youd

On Slushy Duty for Anzac day brunch. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Chatting to Ben at the Anzac Day BBQ. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn.

April 24: King Penguin colony at Gadgets Gully

Gadget Gully King Penguin colony. Photo: Jacque Comery

When I first pictured seeing penguins down here I had no idea that they climbed so high onto the hill sides. Such a hilarious sight ,shuffling along on their silly webbed feet, waggling their tails about.

April 23: Penguin digestors

Penguin digesters on the Isthmus. Photo Rich Youd

Macquarie Island has a long history of exploitation of natural resources, with human activities on the island bringing one species after the other to the brink of extinction. Today many species have recovered, but the reminders remain. These penguin digesters were used to boil down penguins that were hunted for their oil. Royal penguins were particularly high in output for their size and were favoured by hunters. Eventually all species were targeted. Penguins here just stand there and look at you, if not stroll on over to check you out. They must have been very easy pickings for eager hunters.

Wednesday 6 May 2015

April 22: Elephant seals

Elephant seals on the edge of the helipad on station. Photo: Jacque Comery

I am still coming to grips with seeing these guys. When you live in Australia and you see a 3 metre long pile of something brown your first thought is not, " Oh what animal is that?". More like "What dumped mouldy carpet is that". Anyway, I constantly stare right at these guys then wander on by, and they lift up their heads and make a lazy hiss / roar / burping sound whilst showing you a big mouthful of ...well pink tongue. It scares the crap out of me every time! Can't wait til spring when they are flipper to flipper on the beach, and the REAL big boys, The Beachmasters (4 m long and over 4 tonne) arrive. I hope to have my wits about me by then.

April 21: Gentoo Penguins

Gentoo Penguin on Station. Photo: Jacque Comery

Gentoo penguins hanging out at the rear of station. No one told them that they are standing in the Magnetic Quite Zone though! Photo: Jacque Comery

These guys are seen everyday waddling around between our buildings, with their silly orange feet. We just have to be patient and give way to them when we are trying to get work done.

April 20: Westerly beach scene at dusk.

Looking west from the isthmus out to Handspike Point. Photo: Jacque Comery

This arvo I went for a walk kind of late in the day and only had my old HTC phone in my pocket. ( No phones signal here but I use it as an alarm and a handy camera!)
Snapped this moody shot of dusk with a storm rolling in from the west.
On the far left is a posse of Gentoo penguins hanging out on the beach.

April 19: An unexpected guest arrives....

I was busy trying to reconnect my conference phone, and had my head in the corner and heard a noise over the usual roaring wind ruckus. When I heard footsteps on the deck this was NOT who I was expecting. This guy hung out for a while then eventually tried biting the glass for a bit, then gave up and hopped back down the stairs. He lurks in the tall grass near station and chases any body passing.... and yes, despite those melt your heart big brown eyes... these critters bite!

Fur Seal visitor on the deck of my office. Photo Jacque Comery

Are you going to let me in? Photo: Jacque Comery

Sunday 3 May 2015

April 18: Farewell Aurora.....and then there was 13...

Setting off flares to farewell the Aurora Australis on her return to Australia. Photo: Rich Youd.

Smiling at the excitement of our season finally beginning, or because I just let off my first parachute flare? Perhaps both. Photo: Rich Youd

68th ANARE team farewelling the Aurora with customary flare show. Photo: Rich Youd.

It is an ANARE tradition that when the ship is ready to leave they will do a 'sail past' North Head, blast their horn, and at night put on a light show with their search lights. In return we blast off any out of date flares in a little fireworks display. (Being so far from any other shipping, no one else will even see our flares...so boating friends don't be alarmed!)

We gave the AA a fitting send off in gusting winds and driving rain, and a light show that was worth braving the weather for.

April 17: There is how much cargo left?!

The gorgeous AGSO Jenn and I counting cargo loads. Photo: Rich Youd.

Four helicopters, 3 amphibious vehicles, two tractors and hundreds of pallets of cargo from the ship and down island, and passengers being shuttled all over the place. Jenn our AGSO ( Aviation Ground Support Officer) made keeping track of this look effortless. (Thanks Jenn!!!)
(Thanks Rich Youd for another great photo.)

April 16th: Heli ops are go

Macquarie Island has no port or harbour. All of our supplies are brought in by Helicopter or boat. When the swells are too high to land small water craft, the helicopters are our sole means of bringing in our years worth of precious supplies, and of taking out the RTA (Return to Australia) loads of landfill, disused equipment and rubbish back to the ship.
Watching these guys maneuverer their aircraft on and off the narrow isthmus and pitching and rolling ship deck is a sight to behold. Much respect.