'Holiday' at the Bluff

I've just got back from a week's holiday at 'Bluebell Cottage' Fossil Bluff, a small hut built in 1961 on Alexander Island, some 200 miles South of Rothera (http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Living_and_Working/Stations/Fossil_Bluff/index.html). During the summer months there are always 2 people stationed at the Bluff to give meteorological observations for the aircraft and to assist with aircraft re-fuelling for planes heading further South to Sky Blu and people out in the field. It was a brilliant flight down, despite the poor weather, as it was my 1st time in the air in Antarctica. I got to sit in the 'co-pilot' seat and was even allowed to fly for a while!

The hut hasn't changed too much since the 60's, the bunks are original and it has an old fashioned Rayburn stove (not the original Aga but much like it) which is used for heating / cooking. It's backed by huge scree slopes littered with fossils and has stunning views out over the permanent sea ice of George VI sound to the mountains of the peninsular.

The Rayburn was very good for baking bread, bearded gingerbread men and scones, which went down well at the Twin Otter Service Station. Apart from baking and re-fuelling planes time was spent walking (I nearly managed to get to the top of the 'path' through the scree behind the hut but had to give up near the top as it was a case of 1 step up and 3 steps sliding back!), trying to get the boat set up for transport between skiway and hut (which was a bit unsuccessful as the glacial melt pool is 1/2 frozen 1/2 solid at the moment, so we ended up taking the long route around the edge), and when the weather turned bad - reading, loosing a number of games of Scrabble and winning a glorious game of Monopoly!

We even had the 'luxury' of a toilet, named the Rocket Pocket as you have to fire it up weekly to burn the waste, not too pleasant but arguably has the best view from a loo!

Had a lovely time away but it's good to be back (if only for a shower). It's a strange time on base as people are starting to leave, the nights are starting to get dark(ish) and end of Summer is near.