Yesterday (12/11/11) closed out a truly amazing experience, both professionally and personally, as we disembarked from McMurdo Station Antarctica for Christchurch NZ. The team's work to test the McMurdo Data Transfer System (MDTS) was almost without drama, the only challenge had been the needed software update to our data analysis system. The Harris and Raytheon systems delivered on every front while meeting all requirements and expectations, at least from the McMurdo site's perspective. I look forward to analysing the matching data that was transferred to Omaha, via the MDTS, for the record. My hope is that Harris/AFWA staff have cordoned off the requisite data. Teaming with the USG and contractor representatives was a real pleasure. Not only did we all work well together but we could also share our meal and recreation time together. With regret we still had to say our goodbyes to some as select Raytheon staff still have other on-ice integration and formal test events to execute in the coming weeks.
Monday morning began very early (0300) for a call to the mission control center (MCC) to see if the Christchurch to McMurdo flight was on schedule, "indeed it is" was the cheerful reply. This was music to our ears as one of our colleagues had been waiting three days for her trip back to NZ. We hoofed it to the MCC and checked in, grabbed a snack box and waited for transport to Pegasus; we hoped for Ivan the Terra bus as the roads to the flight line were quite rough and Ivan's suspension is ideal for these conditions. Our ride on Ivan was excellent and the trip was only one hour in duration despite the possible two hour trek promised for bad road conditions. Shortly after arriving at Pegasus the skies began to clear and we were treated to a beautiful yet final view of Mount Erebus.
The C17 arrived as scheduled (0615) to the great delight of many, namely, Kiwis (New Zealanders), French, Italians and Americans; 63 in all. We learned that the Prime Minister (PM) of Norway was arriving on his way to the South Pole for the centennial celebration of Roald Amundsen's successful trip to the pole in 1912. The first to deplane was the press corps and camera men/women followed by the PM and entourage. After the short lived fanfare they quickly boarded Ivan for tours of Scott Base and McMurdo before another flight down to the pole. The ground crew quickly swapped out the arriving and departing cargo and then we quickly boarded. At 0745 we departed for the 6 hour flight back to Christchurch. My seat on the C17 was at the very back on the RHS, something I was pleased to have as there was open space on one side. Unfortunately the cargo pallet in front of me were ice cores from the South Pole and they needed to remain frozen; the implication for me was minimal heat for the plane ride to the NZ. Fortunately I had my full ECW gear and donned the majority of it to stay warm. I got a short nap in during the ride but it really was not rest. While on-board the C17 I purchased a pint glass souvenir depicting "operation deep freeze" for Antarctica and McChord AFB, WA C17's crew. I also picked up a McMurdo / NY ANG coin for an AFWA colleague as I'm sure he will appreciate adding it to his extensive collection.
Our arrival at Christchurch was uneventful as both customs and bio-screening were easy. Next came the bag drag over the the USAP CDC to turn in our ECW and get our hotel accommodations. The team was ecstatic to learn we were to be housed again at the Copthorne Commodore hotel and their shuttle service arrived soon thereafter to take us to civilization. The team took a few hours to shower and rest before having a nice dinner together at the hotel's Patterson's restaurant. We hoped to extend our stay another night but it was not possible as they were in an oversold condition. The team is off to change hotels and then head downtown by mass transit for some tourist endeavors.
Our stay at the Sudima hotel was uninspiring compared to the Commodore. The meal service was deplorable; it took nearly 60 minutes to get our entrees after the salads had been presented. The waitress stopped by once during the wait indicating we were next in line in the kitchen. The restaurant was not that busy so something must have been wrong. Once the meal arrived we were more satisfied, however, after requesting our check it still took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. We filled out a survey form and was critical of the extensive wait but no so much about the service. We met some very nice and outgoing Australians in the sports lounge after dinner as the recent Cricket win for NZ was replayed over and over. What a pleasant way to cap a very successful trip than to spend the last evening with friendly locals (NZ and Aussies).
Tomorrow morning and afternoon the team embarks for home. I cannot thank the Air Force, Aerospace and DMSP and JPSS programs for a more positive experience and opportunity to travel to Antarctica, it was truly a trip of a lifetime....
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