August 13: Crisp morning, beautiful skies

North head. Photo: Jacque Cmery

Garden Cove at dawn. Photo: Jacque Comery

Pink hues reflected in Garden Cove. Photo: Jacque Comery

The LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 10: Monochrome snowy world

Frozen LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

Morning Moon. Photo: Jacque Comery

Southern Aurora Donga (SAD) buried in the snow. Photo: Jacque Comery

Containers an d the plumbers workshop Nissan hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

June 14: My first aurora shots

Finally, I managed to capture some aurora shots.  It has taken many nights of experimenting with camera settings, glove combinations, and running about the Isthmus in my PJs and Carhartts avoiding stealth seals. 
Thanks Justin C for the endless tips and encouragement! And to all those who ring the aurora hotline when the sky starts dancing...

Aurora over west beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora above the LARC. Photo: Jacque Comery

Reds and greens behind the clouds. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aurora over west beach and the plateau. Photo: Jacque Comery

April 9: Land ahoy. All aboard the helicopters!

Macquarie Island. First Sighting. Photo: Jacque Comery

A buzz started aboard.  Land ahoy!  To be fair, disappointingly no one actually said that, except me on the inside!  Finally after so much planning and waiting, I laid my eyes on the Green Sponge.  Such a small speck of land out here in the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles from Hobart and half way to Antarctica. This view is out the port hole in the mess...I was making a cuppa at the time.


Macquarie Island and a LARC amphibious vehicle. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

The amphibious LARC is the alternative method to helicopters that we use to move cargo ashore.  Macquarie Island has no port, and all cargo and personnel must be moved via heli flight, or aboard the LARCS. These fine machines are 55 years old and were originally designed for use by the Army. I had the privilege to drive one of these fine ladies in Tasmania. If high winds ground our 4 helicopters the LARCS will be our primary cargo transfer means.  The LARC aboard the Aurora Australis will join the two vehicles already on land.

 

 

On the afternoon of our arrival, the seas were too big to launch the LARCS. The decision came from the Voyage Leader that the Winter crew would fly off by heli to get a head start on handovers.  Notice that I still cant wipe the ridiculous smile off my face.

Jac and Rich Youd (2015 Senior Comms Tech Officer - SCTO) in our survival suits ready to fly off the Aurora.  Photo: Rich Youd.

Awaiting clearance from the HLO to board our heli. Photo: Rich Youd.

Filming my farewell to the Aurora. Photo: Rich Youd.