Around Casey Station

This entry contains a few pictures from inside and around Casey Station.

For the last three weeks it has been quite busy around station, with many of the trade groups trying to prepare the Wilkins runway for the arrival of the Airbus (currently scheduled for early December), plant operators clearing snow down to the wharf in preparation for the arrival of the Aurora Australis in mid/late December for re-supply.

There is also work beginning on the 'West Wing' extension to the 'Red Shed', with preparations for foundation pouring to begin, which will see the amount of sleeping quarters increased.

The'Wallow' lounge area

Splinters Bar

The Operations building.....where I work.

Radio console at work

For those working in Comms, it will begin to get much busier over the next week or so. Beginning next week the small planes will start arriving back at Casey, these aircraft will be returning from Davis and McMurdo stations, and while at Casey will begin survey, and science work. There will be 3 smaller aircraft working in the area, and the Airbus is scheduled to begin direct weekly flights from Hobart to Wilkins runway (approx 70klms, from Casey station), in early December.

In mid/late December the Aurora Australis is scheduled to arrive for re-supply, and before its arrival we will also begin boat operations utilising IRB's.

All of these operations require an increased communications role, providing weather reporting and flight tracking roles, and most of the science flights will take place during the night.

HAGGLUNDS

Field store and Quads

'DOING TIME', completing some of the station duties

A couple of weeks ago we had our first more formal Saturday night dinner since the summer expeditioners arrived. From time to time, the table cloths are spread, candles go out, a more formal menu is arranged, and some even dress for the occasion.

This first dinner of the 2009/2010 summer season, saw the chefs prepare a prawn salad for entrée, duck confit for main, and pavlova for dessert.

When you consider that it was about February this year since the last re-supply, and the last fresh produce arrived, it is amazing what is prepared in the kitchen by the chefs. There is multiple selections of meals at every sitting, and it is all excellent. At the moment we have 2 chefs on station. One who has been here over the last winter, and another who arrived at the same time as me, but will be here over the next winter period. With one of the chefs having a background as a pastry chef, desserts, cakes and bread, are readily available, and very good.

There is a small amount of fresh salad produced in our Hydroponics hut, but the next fresh produce to arrive will be at re-supply in December.

Duck Confit

Workshop building

Fire Tender building

Building on the 'Old' Casey station

Some of the pictures that I have posted previously, show a view across Newcomb Bay towards Wilkes station. Wilkes station was built in the fifties, by the Americans, and handed over to Australia in the sixties. Australia only occupied the station for a couple more years and then built the 'Old' Casey station. Wilkes was built in an area that is lower lying and builds up too much snow. Since being de-commissioned, most of the building at Wilkes have been buried by snow.

The picture above shows one of the buildings that remain of the old Casey station, this station is below and several hundred metres from the current station (towards the wharf). The old station operated from the sixties until 1988 when the current station was opened.

What happens when a door is not sealed properly

The picture above is of the boat shed, located between the current station and the wharf. The 'bliz' build up is as a result of a roller door that does not seal properly, and allows snow to get in.