Landing Bluff, Christmas Day, 25th December 2001
White Christmas guranteed, though today was going to be a little subdued after last night's festivities. The day was overcast and wind free, though Davis had reported heavy falls of snow, which must be an absolute delight for the folks there. We treaded (slowly) up to the GPS site to make a few calls from the Sat phone up there to our families which was fantastic, considering our location and lack of other contact. Alas the time difference wouldn't be amenable to those in Europe or North America. We crashed in the afternoon, catching up on the lack of sleep from the night before. Santa must be losing weight as he came down the 5" chimney of the hut and dropped a nice little parcel from Mum and Anne, a matured (well very, very mature by now) Cheddar, Halva and Alexander's Choccie bars. Very nice. We all had a bit of fun over the evening sched, spinning good wishes to all and our hearty Druzhnaya quartet let loose our special adapation of that favourite carol;

On the First of Druzhnaya .. Davis sent to me

60 knots of blizz from the East
Two roger thats
Three lep seals
Four snowy birds
Five Russian tanks
Six stale sledgies
Seven socks-a-smelling
Eight octas stratus
Neun Bambustafen
Ten teas-a-drinking
Eleven hours more sleeping
Twelve beers-a-brewing

We wished Chunky and Margie good wishes on their approach to TerraSavoje from the frozen shore of Beaver lake, still another ten kms to go, but with a punishing ascent with quads onto the Loewe Massif which is WELL covered in thick, soft and boggy snow. Apparently all of Beaver Lake and the GPS is also covered which could make things interesting when we get there.

The Polar Bird is still stick 102km to our NNE, drifting about 2 km a day to the west while stuck in thick pack ice. The Aurora Australis off Casey might have to come and break it out. Two ships stuck perhaps ? V6 is already three weeks late !!! We heartily enjoyed our little plum puddings for supper. What a Christmas ??

Our Snowman !
Druzhnaya IV looking south
Peering inside the GPS box
Landing Bluff (LDBF) Technical Inspection

Landing Bluff (Druzhnaya IV Station) S 69°44'48" E 73°42'35"

Previous day | Back to Log | Back to Expedition page | Return to Homepage | Next Day