Fossils, Softball, and the Research Vessel

Lystrosaurus fossils found at CTAM field camp. Hard to imagine this place with plentiful creatures and plants...

 Softball tournament a couple weeks ago! We made it to the finals, but got trounced in the last game. The hot dogs cooked over charcoal briquets were unbelievably yummy.



The Nathaniel B Palmer research vessel, used exclusively for science by the USAP program. They gave tours yesterday, two hours before they left port. Folks on this ship work 12-hour days without days off for several months at a time. Whew, I thought we worked long hours!

Scott has been flying around in twin otter airplanes, dismanteling and collecting payloads from balloons. Some of the parts are the same size as a notebook and cost tens of thousands of dollars! Other parts are heavier than he is and have to been be loaded into a small plane. They did meet up with the South Pole Traverse, traveling back from Pole in vehicles, hoping they could load some parts on their large machines, but I'm not sure that ended up working out since flights have been weather-delayed yesterday and today. These little planes are able to land on any flat surface, without grooming! They fly low, have a look, then just land on the bumpy flat white. Scott will post some of his pics soon.

Also, we both ran the 1/2 marathon last Sunday in perfect sunny conditions. Pics to follow...