Monday 2 September 1974
I was able to get the boiler of the heat machine up to its working pressure of 450 psi but when I applied this to the turbine it still wouldn’t turn. Either the oil is too viscous, or CO2 has unsuspected properties or the pressure relief valve is faulty. Winfly’s first two aircraft arrived with Ian Thomas and a load of mail. We do not yet know whether the jockey wheels are included.
RNZAF C130 on the ice runway. The “Winfly” aircraft landed on the snow field and was equipped with skis
The Tygere block for the incinerator doesn’t fit even though we used the forms supplied. We are now having to look for a new ice quarry but so far haven’t had much luck. Whenever there is suitable ice the surrounding snow is too soft and deep for the front end loader. We may be forced to return to collection by hand. On the other hand we have endeavoured to compact the snow with the D4 and it may set hard in a few days.
Many of the chaps received their PX purchases on Winfly and the Base is full of the noise of tearing brown paper. Tony Atkinson has modified the digital solarimeter.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 2 knots Temperature -29.7°C
Tuesday 3 September 1974
Bill Johnson is preparing to replace the hot water cistern in the ablution block. Wisely, he does not wish to start until he has laid out every fitting, terminal and bit of material required. Once he starts we will have no washing, showering or laundry until he finishes. Chris Wilkins is repairing Perfecta water pumps. I have stripped down the heat machine and find it turns over satisfactorily when warm. The trouble probably lies in the oil.
Dave Console, the US doctor, installed a temporary dental filling for me. He has done this for several others with varying success.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North 4 knots Temperature -29.6°C
Wednesday 4 September 1974
The last Winfly aircraft arrived today. Bill Johnson is having trouble locating some essential fittings for the cistern replacement. Tony Atkinson, Mike Wing and Ray Colliver took the dogs for a run. Dave Console came over for lunch and spoke with Tony Bromley, Vanda about the warty growth on his buttock which is giving him some trouble. Afterwards we discussed the exact wording which I should use in a signal to Antarctic Division seeking permission to take the drugs required for a cure across the Wilson Piedmont to an RV with two people from Vanda.
Steve Treves of DVDP would like to inspect the drill rig at New Harbour and so we may be able to make a joint trip of it.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North 2 knots Temperature -30.4°C
Thursday 5 September 1974
The snow compaction last Monday was a success and we are once again getting ice with the loader. Ian Thomas and Stuart Clarke are installing the second dome at Arrival Heights in readiness for visual observations.
Chris and Tony carried the power pick up to the top of Observation Hill and made a start on a hole in which to re-erect Scott’s Cross. In the evening Vanda called with word of a sighting of noctilucent clouds. We all trooped outside and did what we could to take bearings and photos but the clouds faded (perhaps as the sun set).
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 14 knots Temperature -33.8°C
Friday 6 September 1974
Tony has been experimenting with my sextant with a view to getting an accurate elevation angle on any further noctilucent clouds which may appear. At Arrival Heights Chris Wilkins made a number of changes to the lighting as requested by Ian Thomas and Les Walker worked on the 5400 aerial. It seems that jockey wheels for our SnoTrac really did arrive on Winfly and Bob Grant is in process of collecting and fitting them.
In trying to reinstall my heat machine it slipped and I dropped it. More work is now required. I called on the USARP Oceanographic group from Oregon State University in the hope that they could tackle the measurement of current and depth at Site 3 but it is too far a field for them. I spent the rest of the afternoon installing the incinerator burner injector on the side of the incinerator.
In the evening we were expecting about 12 US civilians to call for after dinner drinks. In fact the wind picked up and Dave Bresneham, the senior NSF representative, refused permission for the group to cross the hill road to Scott Base. Unfortunately nobody told us. In the end four of our people went to McMurdo.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 2 knots Temperature -32.7°C
Saturday 7 September 1974
Today Garth Cowan and I endeavoured to locate some thermo-couple wire at 780S 1670E. The SnoTrac with the new jockey wheels went well but deteriorating visibility and uncertainty about my venerable compass meant that although we located a marker we were not sure it was the right one. We dug for a few feet and then struck hard ice without finding any wires. I the worsening weather I decided to head back to Base and make enquires about the marker. When we got back Mike Wing pointed out to me that I had not taken either sleeping bags or mattresses. I was so furious with myself that I went for a walk in the dark.
Ian Thomas is organizing a blower to prevent misting of the domes at Arrival Heights. Mike Wing is painting jerry cans. Bob Grant has rectified a modification blunder on the SnoTrac toboggan we have received for evaluation and it seems to be running well. When it was received its dipstick had been relocated in such a manner that it fouled the crankshaft.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind north-North-East 14 knots Temperature -33.6°C
Sunday 8 September 1974
The usual rest day. I spent it catching up on paper work, answering school children’s letters, etc. Bill Johnson had to strip and clean out both the Mess diesel-beck and Coleman stove.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 21 knots Temperature -34.5°C
No comments:
Post a Comment