The flight to Antarctica

Adding to the adventure.

Well, here we are on the C-17, on our way to the "ice". All our ECW is weighing us down. Many are wondering what is going to happen next, we are the FNGies, or F---New Guys. The more experienced are just resting, reading, listening to music or whatever on the 5 hour flight. Meals, yes, we get them, they are the new up and coming box meals. Some are outdated, some have mold, the canned pasta salad and tuna is disgusting.

The flight crew invited us up to the cockpit. Got to get some awesome pictures of the ice in the very South Pacific Ocean. We were still several hours away from landing on the ice. The pictures do not do the scenery justice.

The view was spectacular from the cockpit, our co-pilot was a very petite female, she could even see over the instrument panel.

Now, we have landed, of course we are not sure where, there are no windows. Everyone is getting their gear on, grabbing the carry on bag, and ready to exit to the ice runway.

We are off the airplane, and the first thing I see besides the bright sun and white runway, is Ivan the terra bus. Our driver was Shuttle Bill, he was awesome.

After walking out near Ivan, I turned to photograph our airplane. Just a tiny plane, but we are all relieved that we have landed. Beautiful day, sunny and crisp. OK, now load us all up, and take us to the galley for orientation and get our room keys. Lots more sitting and listening. The C-17's are very sensative and do not like the cold, so they are only on the ground about 1 hour. They are reloaded, and take back off for Christchurch.