Monday 25 March 1974
The mirror tilt motor in the Photometer (Julie) failed in the cold temperatures. Tony Atkinson fitted a large capacitor which may help. Radio communications have been disrupted by a magnetic storm and none of us got our phone calls to New Zealand.
I have still not eliminated the torque resistance in the heat machine. Meantime I am trying to saw up seals and having problems with the chainsaw.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind South-East 20 knots Temperature -14.6°C
Tuesday 26 March 1974
A clear day. Tony has cured “Julie” but I have had no luck with the heat machine. We made our first mistake in the new system by which we filled the sledges with the loader. Chris driving the loader scooped too low and dumped a mix of ice and scoria in one of the sledges. We had to pick out the bigger lumps by hand and throw the rest away.
In the afternoon we recovered the ski tow motor to the Base and stored the rest of the gear (ropes and shackles) in the chalet. We were unable to move the chalet itself. It appears to be iced in. Radio communications to New Zealand failed again, this time due to a transmitter fault.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 13 knots Temperature -21.8°C
Wednesday 27 March 1974
Tony has devised a field current control for the output alternator in my heat machine but I still haven’t cured the rotational stiffness. The ionosonde developed a fault and we lost several hours of records. Chris Wilkins had a day off with a severe headache – our first illness for some time. Bill and Mike have made a tray in which to soak tool helves in linseed oil. Bill has charted and flagged the Petrol, Oil and Lubricants (POL) dump. To my delight Titch was able to make a radio phone connection to my home.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 20 knots Temperature -21.7°C
Thursday 28 March 1974
Last night Julie (photometer) had its first good run and got credible results showing the intensity of an aurora display. Bob Grant serviced the D4. Chris Wilkins repaired the humidifier yet again. Mike Wing and Tony Atkinson took the dogs to Williams Field. Osman, the leader, did not perform well despite this familiar run. I am still trying to saw seals between other jobs but the saw motor keeps “dying”. I suspect the carburettor is icing up. Once it stops the chain freezes to the blade and the whole thing has to be thawed out.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 20 knots Temperature -28.7°C
Friday 29 March 1974
This morning was very clear and we had a display of parahelia (sun dogs) which brought most of the camera out. I walked over to McMurdo and had my back and chest X-rayed. My rib has healed but I have a problem with one of the vertebrae – mostly old age I suspect.
Chris repaired the power wagon circulating pump. Bob is back at work on Toboggans patching fibreglass. Bill and Mike fired up the incinerator and took the hard rubbish to the McMurdo dump. The incinerator has to be properly stoked and tended and it costs us some time to use it.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind East 2 knots Temperature -23.8°C
Saturday 30 March 1974
Bob Grant serviced the Landrover and Power Wagon. Bill and Stuart inspected the building insulation at Arrival Heights. A bit of work is needed there. Bill also fitted valves to the Caterpillar breathers. I think I am now making progress with the elimination of stiffness in the heat machine having made a new mounting plate. In the afternoon Mike Wing, Tony Atkinson and I spent the afternoon weighing the dogs and clipping their toenails.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind South-South-West 8 knots Temperature -18.3°C
Sunday 31 March 1974
Ray Colliver went climbing in the survival training area with Bill Likey the Holmes and Narver field expert. Ray had only trampers’ boots and got frostbitten toes. Tony and three others walked over to the newly frozen sea ice. They found it had a good surface and was about nine inches thick.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 20 knots Temperature -29.8°C
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