Dinner at Scott Base

On Thursday, I received a special invitation to Scott Base for dinner to meet Jana, a lovely Czech-Kiwi, with whom, I will be sharing the winter. The evening included greenhouse collaboration, a delicious Indian meal, hokey-poky ice cream (YUMM!!), marinating by the fire, spectacular views, penguins, friends, feathers, rat tails, scary stories and fun for all.

DELICIOUS! Spinach Saag with Tofu, Tandoori Chicken and
Indian Yogurt and Cabbage Salad all la Chef Lance!

Sully was the first to be feathered!

Then Mel...

and Kory

and Jana (what a pretty blue!)

and finally, Lance, who got a feather rat tail!

Jana and Mel looking at all the feathers and color choices.

Emily and Lance talk about hydroponics for growing greens during the winter.

An amazing view of the permanent (or not so permanent) ice shelf.

Steam coming off of the open water as the setting
sun casts a low and lovely glowing light.

Mel and Jana share some scary stories.

They've got Kori and Sully wide eyed and on the edge of their seats!
What a nice toasty fire!

The sun is a settin'.

Penguins frolic and squawk out by the remaining pressure ridges.

Picturesque Antarctica. The perfect end to the perfect night!

Open Water all the Way Over to Scott Base

The massive amount of open water continues to break up the ice shelf.

Kelli takes a walk down the plank to get a better look.

Looks serene right? Tropical even? Think again.
It was wicked wicked cold out and windy as hell.

Which is exactly why I bundled up to walk the plank!

Most of the Pressure Ridges near Scott Base have melted,
these remain, along with penguins and seals.

Kelli against Mt. Terror.

Erebus on the left, Terror on the right.
Visible also is the transition and the beginning
of the road to Pegasus Airfield.

Panoramic view of Mt. Erebus, the transition and
the road leading to Pegasus Airfield.