Rations, Coffee & Christmas
First off, sorry for the lack of updates (or penguins), the wireless connection out at the field camp has been really flakey these last few days. Team SBI has been making good progress, and Bliss still has all his toes despite the martial arts demonstration. Yesterday Derrick, Marty & Terry of the LBD program headed back home after many months making all the preperations for all the science teams to launch thier projects. Thanks guys, you rock!
Many APL'ers (or is that APLiens?) remember the discussion of Alcohol rationing down here in Antarctica. Lets just say that in years past, the long hours, awful weather, small number of people, and lack of social activity lead to some pretty heavy drinking. Well, to curb that the USAP (United States Antarctic Program) instituted a rationing program. This is the result:
Errr . . . ok then! I guess thats a 6 pack for lunch, and another for dinner. Interchanged with a bottle of wine per meal, just for variety. Actually, most people just split a bottle per table at dinner, I have not met anyone who feels limited by this ration.
However, there is also a ration on chocolate and diet soda. This causes far more of an uproar even than the beer. All 3 USAP bases on Antarctica (which is most of the continenet) is only supplied once per year. This means that almost all the food, drink, supplies etc. are caarefully managed throughout the year untill January when the supply ship comes in after a few ice breakers clear a path. Diet soda apparently has a shorter shelf life than the regular stuff, and so is a premium because it is flown in from NZ along with the fresh fruits and vegetables. Apparently people have stockpiles of diet coke.
The coffee house is one of the more relaxed places to hang out at McMurdo. It looks like a bunker from the outside, but has a warm interior with couches, tables, a bar, and various board games for group entertainment. They server coffe, and coffee drinks, as well as a wide selection of wine (thus my declaration that its 1/2 a bar). Also, now that Thanksgiving is over, a few Christmas decorations have been posted around the base.
Here are some photos of the coffee house and decorations:
Many APL'ers (or is that APLiens?) remember the discussion of Alcohol rationing down here in Antarctica. Lets just say that in years past, the long hours, awful weather, small number of people, and lack of social activity lead to some pretty heavy drinking. Well, to curb that the USAP (United States Antarctic Program) instituted a rationing program. This is the result:
Errr . . . ok then! I guess thats a 6 pack for lunch, and another for dinner. Interchanged with a bottle of wine per meal, just for variety. Actually, most people just split a bottle per table at dinner, I have not met anyone who feels limited by this ration.However, there is also a ration on chocolate and diet soda. This causes far more of an uproar even than the beer. All 3 USAP bases on Antarctica (which is most of the continenet) is only supplied once per year. This means that almost all the food, drink, supplies etc. are caarefully managed throughout the year untill January when the supply ship comes in after a few ice breakers clear a path. Diet soda apparently has a shorter shelf life than the regular stuff, and so is a premium because it is flown in from NZ along with the fresh fruits and vegetables. Apparently people have stockpiles of diet coke.
The coffee house is one of the more relaxed places to hang out at McMurdo. It looks like a bunker from the outside, but has a warm interior with couches, tables, a bar, and various board games for group entertainment. They server coffe, and coffee drinks, as well as a wide selection of wine (thus my declaration that its 1/2 a bar). Also, now that Thanksgiving is over, a few Christmas decorations have been posted around the base.
Here are some photos of the coffee house and decorations:
posted by Nathan at
2:50 PM
3 Comments:
Dear Nathan,
I still don't know if you have gotten any of my comments. Loved all the photos of Thanksgiving supper, with cooks and helpers. Your scenery photos are great..the Scott Hut photos reminded me of the failed expeditions I have read about. You photograph well. The coffee bar seems to have a nice atmosphere..the town Xmas decorations a bit spare..but then some poor schmo had to climb up there and put them up. Boy, what is the diet coke thing,,,chocolate is another matter. Please some pics of yoour sleeping quarters..Much love, mom
By
mom, at 3:56 PM
Haha. I love the Snowman decoration... as if the only way to see a snowman in Antarctica is to post a cardboard cartoon version of one.
I thought those types of decorations only existed in Florida!
By
Chris, at 5:25 AM
You know, there actually is not much usable snow that you could make a snowman with around the base. The problem is that its really cold, so it does not snow much, but it hardly ever melts. Its like the shirt I say that was about skiing in Antarctica: "1/2 in. if fresh snow on top of a 9,000 ft. base".
I'll try to make a real snowman out at the field if I get time.
By
Nathan, at 10:37 AM
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