Penguin Pete's Diary
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6/3/01 - Polar Bird - Zhongshan(Chinese)/Progress(Russian)/Law(Aust.)
The incoming Chinese wintering team for Zhongshan came down on the Polar Bird. We are moored just off their base, but cannot see it as it is hidden behind a bluff. We will pick up the outgoing winter team tomorrow, and they will travel back to Hobart with us. The Zhongshan station is quite small, with only a 15 member winter team.
The Chinese, Australian and two Russian (Progress 1 and Progress 2) bases are all very close (less than a few km apart). Zhongshan and I think Progress 2 are permanently manned. The Law base is only a few small huts, and is only used over summer.
The bases are right next to a fast flowing glacier which generates a huge number of icebergs. The place is surrounded with big chunks of floating ice and is quite spectacular.
I've been helping on the deck with loading and unloading their supplies - getting them to or from the helicopters etc. We've only been on the boat for a few days, and I am looking for jobs to do to keep me from sinking into my bunk and staying there. While we are travelling in or near the sea ice, the ship doesn't roll about too much, and I can get about. Once we hit the open ocean I expect I will have to spend a lot more time horizontal.