Journal Entry
This is the last day in McMurdo and I have a choice. I can do laundry, or go SCINI dipping. Cameo Slaybaugh tells me that her researcher, Dr. Stacy Kim, needs extra hands to help with the Underwater ROV (see Cameo's journals for the project details).Cameo's journal
After she explained that I get to ride in a snowmobile on the sea ice, this is a no brainer. I will spend my last day in McMurdo helping to launch the ROV "SCINI" through a hole in the ice. My marching orders are to report to Dr. Kim's lab at noon.
The touch tank contains marine organisms from the local waters in Antarctica
When we arrive on the ice, Marco and Stacy have to open up ice holes which have frozen so that recording instruments can be lowered into the water.
He can not fall in. See the next photo.
I am sitting on Marco's legs so that he does not slip into the hole.
Marco says there is too much weight on his legs.
Stacy supervises the team and makes a mean hot apple cider.
We sit in the hut and watch images from the SCINI camera.
Thanks to Stacy and Cameo, for letting me help out. Thanks to Francois for the ride back on the snowmobile. Tomorrow I will get up very early to do laundry and then say goodbye to McMurdo as I head out to Beacon Valley to rendezvous with Dr. Dave Marchant and the team.