(By Nick)
I remember vaguely something about Robert Falcon Scott believing the worst part of any expedition was over when the preparations were finished. For sure, he died in Antarctica, so Till and I have been trying to enjoy getting ready for the trip, and all its last minute, minute tasks.
This involves prepping and obtaining scientific equipment, such as an ultrasonic sensor from the Veterinary College. They use this instrument to test cows for pregnancy - we'll be using it to measure brine channel volume in the sea ice. Till is busy trying to secure a surveying station, with which we can produce beautifully accurate profiles of the ice surface.
I learned yesterday how to use the conductivity instrument and the way to calibrate it is get a special solution called HI-7033. With a little luck the place we can get some HI-7033 is our own lab at DAMTP or perhaps the Chemistry Department. The cold weather clothes are packed in metal boxes and we have taken a gas powered drilling head to Karl at CED Shipping, earlier than the other gear, in Over (no-man's land Cambridgeshire) because it is HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.
Our secretary Doris informed me today that the flights from Longyearbyen to Tromsø at the end of the expedition are for sure full. What this means is I will get to enjoy a few extra days to get my land legs back by hiking around Svalbard at the end of our voyage on the Arctic Sunrise.
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