Monday 1 April 1974
In preparation for winter Chris Wilkins has replaced all the blown bulbs in the snow melter lights but we may not have enough bulbs to last the winter. Mike Wing has made a start on sledge repairs. Bill Johnson dismantled the Caterpillar heat exchangers as the primary circuit water temperature had fallen to 1050F due to carbon in the tubes. This is a long dirty job. Tony Atkinson and Stuart Clarke are wrestling with the problem of sending photometer results to New Zealand by telegraph. The intensity of light in three colours in different directions at different times is recorded by a pen recorder on a chart. We have no means of radioing a facsimile and reducing one chart to coordinates takes pages of figures.
Several of the Base staff attended a “winter inaugural” dinner at McMurdo with waiter service, the Doctor playing “Hungarian Rhapsody” (the only tune he can play according to rumour) and a clown as floor show. Apparently it was a great success.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 8 knots Temperature -30.2°C
Aerial view of Hut Point (WF – William Field, SB – Scott Base, OH – Observation Hill, McM – McMurdo, WI – White Island, IR – Ice Runway)
Tuesday 2 April 1974
We have been able to keep the 920 loader in operation despite the lower temperatures. Bob Grant has been repairing the garage doors and doorstep. Mike Wing checked availability of key items of field equipment for next season. We are all starting to put on weight with the reduced activity. I have sawed up a few more seals.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-West 20 knots Temperature -17.2°C
Wednesday 3 April 1974
Most of the day spent preparing a long signal with the monthly reports. Our light bulbs are starting to fail one by one. I am going to begin again with the heat machine and construct a carriage for the main assemblies which are adjustable instead of relying on getting the alignment exactly right. Tony Atkinson has constructed a little revolution gauge for it.
The laboratory is also recording unusually large changes in the magnetic field and suspect the equipment is faulty. However Garth Cowan and Tony having checked it out can find no fault.
The Base staff decided not to participate in the bowling competition at McMurdo as the timings could clash with radio schedules, laboratory checks and periodic maintenance work.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North 8 knots Temperature -19.7°C
Thursday 4 April 1974
Our diesel-beck heaters in the kitchen and laboratory are giving trouble again. They are cleaned out and re-adjusted every second month. The job is not at all popular. Bob Grant has finished the garage doors and doorstep and has started on the D4 service. Bill Johnson has taken stock of all timber.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 8 knots Temperature -27.0°C
Friday 5 April 1974
Tony Atkinson, Chris Wilkins and Mike Wing are preparing to make a trip towards the moraine covered ice to the north of Brown’s Peninsula. All our tents need repair and Mike is working on the one they are to take. In the evening we had Commander Sutherland the US Navy commanding officer to dinner with 11 of his staff.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 8 knots Temperature -25.2°C
Saturday 6 April 1974
Tent repairs have been held up because of a fault in the sewing machine. Bill Johnson on dismantling it found clear evidence that it had never been overhauled on its last trip to New Zealand for that purpose. Bob Grant is making a further effort to repair the fibreglass bonnets of the OMC toboggans.
The wind having picked up, Tony Atkinson has decided to postpone the field trip to the moraine covered ice. This is probably good sense as the tent repairs have not been completed either.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 15 knots Temperature -27.8°C
Sunday 7 April 1974
This morning being still and cold I got up early and jogged to McMurdo and back. I am getting very much out of condition and over-weight so found it difficult to keep jogging even to the top of the hill. However by going very slowly I did manage. In the afternoon several of the staff took the three bitch pups for a walk up one side of Observation Hill and down the other.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 8 knots Temperature -34.7°C
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