Temporary housing for researchers
We also saw the land vehicles used on and near the base, and the crates containing the materials for the modular housing units that I read about before coming on the trip. These will be used to build two more housing units to house the people moving to McMurdo from Williams Field, one of the air strips nearby.
Vehicles in front of a Jamesway "nine-pack", and newly-arrived modular housing (still in the box!)
Nearby, the McMurdo fire station, and the infirmary. I really liked the sign next to the door of the infirmary -- a penguin holding sign reading, "So you wanted to a Southern Vacation, Welcome to McMurdo..."
Fire station and infirmary (above), and the sign on the infirmary wall (below)
Finally, we went to the Coffee House, which also contained the souvineer shop! While it was closed yesterday, they actually had it open for us today, so we all crammed in and started browsing and buying. They must have sold thousands of dollars worth of sweatshirt, T-shirts, books, postcards, mugs, sweatpants and socks, boxer shorts, pins and pendants, patches and bumper stickers. I noticed tha the first thing you saw when entering the shop was a big display of men's underwear (regular stuff, nothing fancy) in a window. I guess that's a big item for the people on the base. They also had lots of stereo headphones, CD players, and canned food.
Near the supply shop
This is where many people spent most of their time, I think. The lines was very long. I bought two sweatshirts and two T-shirts.
Since we seemed to lose our group in the shop, grandma decided to go back to the zodiac landing area to go back. I chose to go to Observation Hill to try a climb.
Thanks Toby!
Also, several people have commented on the inaccuracy of the Grand Antarctic Circumnavigation tour map. It shows Cape Royds and Cape Evans on the far side of the Ross Sea, when in reality they are on Ross Island, on the east side of McMurdo Sound. I'm looking for a better map to replace this one with. Bear with me!