Halley’s Cometh

I’ve finally got round to using twitter, you can find me @deanotwit.

I’m off to Sudan on Sunday, and I’ve actually managed to get all my photos from Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Finland, The Lakes, Thailand and Japan onto my mac, so I’ll be posting an update very soon … Ohh I bet you cant wait.

I’ve finally returned to the UK, and I’ve done the unthinkable - I got a job.

The last 6 months has been interesting to say the least. I travelled through South America, went boarding in Finland (and broke my coccyx), caught up with friends and family, travelled through Thailand and Japan and I’m now sat in a Hotel in Gloucester looking for a new place to live. My job, which isnt too dissimilar to my job at Halley starts next week, and it’ll take to me far flung corners of the globe in search of dodgy comms equipment. I’ll be working for a land-mine clearing company, and it’s taking me to places like The Sudan, Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq and other such exciting[dangerous] places.

Seeing as my photography has taken a back seat lately, I decided to splash out on a new camera. The trusty 20D has been replaced with a new spinkee 5D Mark2, which I plan to use a lot in Africa for low light/night shots (using a lovely 50mm prime 1.4 L lens!). The updates might not be as often, but I’ll still use this site to show off a few photos now and again, and I might have time to post a few words when I have the time.

My time at Halley is coming to an end. One more night at my home for over two years, then I’ll be leaving on the same ship that brought me here in 2006.

No more gash.
No more aurora.
No more static shocks.
No more tick sheets.
No more melt tank.
No more squeaky snow.
No more 20 second showers.
No more mid winters.
No more sun downs.
No more sun ups.
No more frost nip.
No more winter trips.
No more centenary raises.
No more balloon launches.
No more awe and amazement at the view from my window every morning.

I’ll probably never find a more ‘me’ place ever again.

I now move on to another part of my so called life, travelling around the Americas. I don’t know where I’m going, what I’ll be doing or how long it’ll take me. I have ambitions of climbing mountains, flying planes and being happy - and I managed all three at Halley. I hope I can keep up the momentum once I leave.

Thanks for reading.

Teehee!

Ahem, grow up. I went for a little trip last week.

We flew to Berkner South and raised the fuel depot (and spent the night). Then onto Touchdown to pickup more fuel and back to Berkner South. From there we flew to Pillow Knob in the Pensacola mountains, stopped off at a US GPS to see if we could fix one of their failing instruments (and my first time on rock in over two years!!) and back to Berkner South (and spent the night). From there we flew to the ozone monitoring sites ingeniously named Ozone India and Ozone Juliet (and spent the night). The final leg of our journey took us to the Theron Mountains, where we spent two nights before finally returning back to Halley.

I don’t think I can truly explain just how fantastic this trip really was. I got to fly the plane for over 9 hours, which are all genuine flying hours and will definitely go in my logbook. The views of non-flat things for the first time in over two year took my breath away. Mountains and glaciers amongst the Pensacola and Theron Mountains were spectacular, and I got a massive buzz from making my first true ascent in the Antarctic when we stopped off at WO4A, a GPS site belonging to the Americans that lived on a small mountain poking it’s pretty head out of the snow.

Enough words, here are some photos…

Our camp at Bernker South just after the plane’s taken off for a run to Touchdown

There used to be 40 full fuel drums in that hole. We dug them out and dragged em behind the skidoo to raise the depot.

Dave refuels the plane for another run

A photo for Sune. Marmite, surely the food of Gods?

Airline food isn’t what it used to be

Mark ‘Bomber’ Beasley doesnt like the idea of an Immelman turn followed by a s-turn

Pillow Knob. Yes, that’s it’s actual name. No I didn’t think of it, it’s been like that for years. Yes, it is amazing.

We stop at WO4A to fix a GPS site. IT’S A MOUNTAIN OMG I GET TO TOUCH LAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER TWO YEARS £&Y@£*@£(@$(@$

HUZZAH! It feels… hard

Aaaaaand we’re off again over the Pensacola mountains. You can see the glacier slowly spilling into the valley like a massive, er tongue?

Our campsite at the Theron mountains. Tip: DO NOT park your tent in front of a plane if your pilot likes practical jokes. The big git

Rich pops out to use the toilet, also known as Mark’s Palace

My view from inside our tent. It doesn’t get better than this

Happy New Year everyone!

My resolutions for 2009

Get a pilots license
Climb a proper mountain
Grow up a little bit. But only a tiny bit

Have a good year.
-Dean

I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To my friends, family and loved ones - I hope to see you soon.

Here’s the view from my window on Christmas Eve.

-Dean