Christmas at Casey station, Antarctica

Santa arriving at Casey

As explained previously, christmas was going to be delayed due to the re-supply ship, the Aurora Australis being at Casey.

The re-supply went well with 760,000 litres of fuels being unloaded, as well as food, machinery, and anything else the station might require for the next 12 months before the ship returns.

The Aurora Australis departed late afternoon on Christmas day, and the rest of the day was spent unloading food, and groceries from several shipping containers, and then a game of cricket broke out after dinner. Although we would be celebrating christmas the following day, we did receive a very light fall of snow of the real christmas day.

For those at Casey, Christmas would be celebrated on the 26th of December, and boxing day the 27th.

Station Christmas photo

I awoke on Christmas day to a present left by my door, a present that my wife Maree, and kids Beth and Caitlyn had obviously posted to the station leader to be left out for me. It was nice to open it and find a few goodies, and drawings from the kids.

All then gathered for brunch at about 10am, and with the recent re-supply we got fresh fruit and real eggs among plenty of other things on the menu.

Early afternoon saw santa arrive in a sleigh drawn by a couple of quad bikes. Presents were then exchanged, and all settled in for christmas dinner.

Another treat for those who don't mind watching the cricket, was that the boxing day test had been streamed down to us over the internet.

As usual the two chef's on station cooked up storm, there was a selection of multiple different roasts, and a huge seafood buffet.

Life size penguins, sculptured out of butter were also put out on the tables.

One hot topic discussed over the dinner table was the boxing day swim that was to take place the following morning.

Chef 'Steve' at the carvery

Boxing day saw all keen, (probably mad) expeditioners head down to the wharf to prepare for the swim.

The air temperature was about -2c, and the water temperature about -1c.

To run down the boat ramp, dive under the water and resurface, just to look back and hope it doesn't take too long to get out. Shortly after getting out of the water, it becomes quite comfortable just standing there in a pair of board shorts.

But we all lined up again, and went in for a second dip. It seamed so much colder the second time round.

After the swim about a dozen of us went out in 3 IRB's for an iceberg cruise. It was amazing that we were just standing there in shorts, and swimming in the water about an hour previous, and now putting on 4 layers of clothes, including a Mustang survival suit for our trip out on the boats.

But the iceberg cruise, and trip back to Shirley Island will be in the next post.