(Dated Nov. 6, but it's taken me a week to complete . . .that's the volcano, Mt. Erebus, in the background above. )
They say the first time you come to Antarctica, it's for the adventure. The second time, it's for the money. The third time, it's because your friends are here. The fourth time, it's where you belong. This is my fifth trip.
I got to Johnstown Nov. 9, 2010 and left to head back down here on Oct 31, 2011, just a little less than a year later. That's the longest I've been in the States at one time since I began wandering around back in Oct. 2004.
What did I do during that year?
Well, there were a couple weeks hunting deer unsuccessfully. There were a couple weeks celebrating the holidays. There were numerous months job hunting, eventually somewhat successfully. There were rounds of golf, almost no fishing and very little travel. After bouncing around three or four addresses, I rented an apartment. It was in the same complex that my folks moved to in 1952 or '53, my first home in Johnstown. There was no deja vu.
In June I went to work through a temp agency for a local electrical contractor. Southwest Pennsylvania is still economically depressed. The state doesn't license electricians although it licenses barbers. Anyone can do electrical work, but the pay isn't much. For the first month, I worked mostly nights in commercial buildings changing out fluorescent ballasts and lamps. Then I moved to a crew in a powdered metals mill. The mill has gone through numerous owners and operations in it's 100+ year history. The powdered metal, mostly iron, is as fine as talcum powder. Five minutes after I started, I was filthy and stayed that way, no matter how often I washed. Needless to say, I don't want to work in a mill.
The end of August, I landed a job with the state as a semi-skilled worker at Yellow Creek State Park. It was only a 33 cent pay cut.
The park job is seasonal, but I like it. I mean, who wouldn't like working at a park? Pick litter, clean restrooms, cut grass, clean cabins, pick litter, cut grass, do minor maintenance jobs, pick litter, cut grass, return wandering pups, retrieve drifting sailboats . . .
It's a small park with a staff of ten, a good, friendly crew.
About the time I started at the park, some folks from the Antarctic program contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in working the summer, Nov. through mid-Feb. Again, long story short, my last day at the park was Oct. 21, I flew to Denver Oct. 27, to New Zealand Oct. 31 and here to McTown Nov. 4. My contract officially ends Feb. 15, but it can vary by a couple weeks. Supposedly, I can l start back at the park Mar. 26. How's that for timing?
If the job had been to work around McTown (McMurdo Station in case you don't recall) I may not have taken it. As it is, I am working with another great bunch, Science Construction. We're based here at McTown but will travel out to the field camps where scientists conduct research. That's kind of accurate; actually, we will be travelling out to set-up the camps. In most instances, we will camp out in Antarctica while we do our work. Good thing it's summer!
I expect to have a lot different photos. Good thing, because I think I posted photos of just about everything there is to photograph around town the last time I was here. As I mentioned in my email, I won't have much access to the Internet while I am out, but hopefully I'll be able to post when I get back to town.
The first day I arrived, I got my gear to my room and then headed to dinner. As I walked out of the dorm and across the parking lot to Bldg. 155, it was all extremely familiar to me. Too familiar.
It's unsettling that living in Antarctica is becoming second nature . . . .
Keep an eye on your email.
See ya later - Phil
