Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurements

Wednesday 4 October 2000
Today is our first full day at sea. By the time we got out of bed land had long since vanished and we were in the Southern Ocean. Gordon is a seasoned sea farer and I’m proud to say that I take after him - a solid constitution and no hint of sea sickness - though I’m not too sure about some of my travelling companions - OzGold looks a bit green around the gills.

Gordon attended an Operational - Science meeting regarding sediment traps this morning – the weather forecast for arrival at pick up point does not look promising at present but it is a day away!! Bird and whale observations have commenced.
Today was settling in day for most, though there are many who are feeling decidedly poorly. Gordon and the doctor did cabin rounds late in the day to check on people and see how they were travelling. OzGold and I have a lovely spot - we are on Gordon’s desk and can see and hear everything that’s happening.
We’ve had a good look over the ship these last few days and have made a special report "The ship and its facilities". We’ll make other special reports on equipment and events as they happen.

Each day we are away the Voyage Leader sends a short report to Antarctic headquarters - giving our position, weather conditions, our on-board fuel situation and a general wrap on what we’ve been doing. I have put all these daily reports, called SITREPS (for SITuation REPortS) into the data section of Bears on Ice. New data is posted every week. The SITREPs started when we left Self’s Point for Port Arthur.

Thursday 5 October 2000
Second day out, there are more people up and about though some are still feeling poorly. The doctor has been busy keeping pills up to people and in some cases even administering needles. In mid afternoon we reached the site for the first science activity - the recovery and redeployment of sediment traps. Expeditioners were stationed on the monkey island and heli deck as lookouts all afternoon and into the evening. The ship conducted a search pattern overnight based on the strength of the radio signal from the unit. I’ll make a special report on that activity when it is all over.

OzGold and I are quietly sitting on Gordon’s desk in his cabin talking about our trip. We are newcomers to this Antarctic business but have been sneaking a look at Gordon’s notes and papers and have some idea of what is happening
I think that will do for now, more with my next report.

TTFN (this is new Antarctic talk - it stands for Ta Ta For Now)