redeployment and resupply

I have my redeployment date. February 24 I am chalked in to leave the continent. This must be taken with a flexible attitude, as the date could be pushed back; as late as March 3 if our season is extended. Or, with weather or mechanical problems, the flight could be further delayed. At least this date is a start for making travel plans and such. I requested this date as I hoped to watch the station closeout for winter and find myself on the last flight out.

In other news, the Swedish Icebreaker Ship, the Oden, is visible as it wanders towards McMurdo to resupply the station for next summer season. When ship off-load begins, the town runs full-steam, 24 hours a day, and the place dries out (by "dry out," I mean, there are no liquor sales & it's dry and dusty all over the place).

The volcanic ash dust around town is overwhelming. Today I taxied people around who just wanted a reprieve from the wind and dust. Fleet Ops actually send out a water truck to water all our dirt roads in town. It's amazing how much that helps! Our airfield was closed today with a Condition 2 (or worse) storm. My last shuttle run nearly forced me to get stuck in the snow. The Cargo folks and myself enjoyed slipping and sliding 6 of the miles back to town on our snow road.