Time to run out of the dorm to Derelict Junction to catch a bus (a
giant-wheeled Delta) to Scott Base, the New Zealand (or Kiwi in local slang)
Antarctic station. It's only about ten minutes away.
Derelict Junction Bus Stop
Waiting for the bus
It's the evening after Icestock, December 31. I've been out at Cape Royds
all day, playing guitar in Scott's Hut and now it's time to play the Kiwi's
New Year's Eve party with Coldfinger. One of the members of You Bet Your
Life is out sick in the dorm, so I will get to sit in with them, too.
Scott Base lacks the spectacular views of distant mountain ranges across the
sea ice that we enjoy at McMurdo. But they have great views of Mt. Erebus
and Mt. Terror, as well as spectacular sea ice pressure ridges, right in
front of the base's uniformly green buildings. There are less than 100 souls
at Scott, that's less than one-tenth of the population of McMurdo.
HK @ Scott Base
Scott Base Green
Ice pressure ridges @ Scott
Seals & Mount Terror
Castle Rock from Scott Base
Kirlian New Years @ Scott
COLDFINGER on stage
Kiwi NY Spoonful (video clip)
*Note: You will need a media player (e.g. RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, etc.) installed on your computer in order to listen/see these clips.
We have a great band chemistry in Coldfinger. It is a pleasure and an honor
for me to play with these folks.
Bill, Jay & Kenda
Mark Hitchcock
The bands stop just before midnight and it's time for the traditional
balloon drop, as Guy Lombardo plays on the disco PA.
Midnight
One thing that is different for me after a month and half on the ice is that
I do not walk outside at midnight and think, "IT'S STILL LIGHT OUT!" I am now
completely used to no night, no stars, just an infinite day. This seems
normal now.
My pal Matt also made a wonderful poster for South Pole Stationıs New Yearıs
Eve party. Or NEAR YEAR'S EVE, as they call it, since Raytheon and the NSF
moved their holiday, too.
Pole Party Homer Poster
The "Poleys" just forwarded a couple of thank-you pix to Matt, which I will
share with you here.
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