The Calm Before The Storm

Here we go! Deployment #2 is underway. I arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand after a fun 30+ hours of travel in the most indirect way possible to my destination. I was whisked immediately away to the Clothing Distribution Center to make sure all the cold weather gear from last year still worked well. After I got to the hotel, I didn’t emerge for over a day.


I am not amused after 30+ hours dealing with American Airlines (not my choice!) debacles....

I haven’t had a real chance to look around Christchurch before because we had to quarantine last I was on my way to McMurdo, and I flew back to the US within 8 hours of landing from Antarctica on my way home. Day 2 this trip was rainy and miserable, so I mainly stayed inside the hotel and worked.


Day 3, however, as my only day in a sunny Christchurch, I made up for it. I wanted to see what the “downtown” area was like, check out the Botanical Gardens, and make sure I had some comfort foods that I wouldn’t be seeing for awhile in Antarctica. 


First stop, the lovely Christchurch Botanical Gardens. What a WONDERFUL park. There’s so many trees, flowers, birds, and strolling paths. It was peace for my brain that had been on overload getting ready for this deployment. I strolled through the park once in the morning AND went back in the afternoon, it was that nice to see.

The flowers were beautiful, and there were several baby ducklings waddling around their momma ducks. There was even a swan family!



Baby catching up to his momma






Black swan family with baby swan


So many ducklings!

I took a city tram tour which I recommend for anyone that hasn’t been here before. It’s less than an hour and provides historical information as you strut around the town in a trolley car.




There were several interesting painted murals on buildings through the town.





Most importantly, I wanted to get some food that I knew I wouldn’t be having for awhile down in Antarctica. There’s a grouping of restaurants called the Riverside Market where I went for the haloumi cheese and beet salad and ate on a terrace soaking in the rays of sunshine. 


Riverside Market from above


SALAD!!! You will be missed!


Even though I was full, I couldn’t resist the “California Dreamin’ Toastie” at another kiosk (brie, raspberry jam, chicken toasted).



I meandered back toward the gardens again, stopping in all the interesting local shops and art galleries. Walking around the gardens again was really good for my soul. Getting ready for a deployment when you don’t really live in one location was challenging, stressful, and rushed. I was glad to take some time to smell the roses, stroll along the water, and take in the sights of green grass, towering trees, and colorful flowers. It will be some time before I see those again, and you definitely miss that.

Finished the walk with a mango ice cream…. Another treat that will have to wait until 3 months from now for me.



Tomorrow I am scheduled to fly out on a C-17 at a very early hour, but the weather in McMurdo might prohibit us from going. Hurry up and wait will be the motto every day until we can depart.

Next stop… McMurdo. This time I will be the National Science Foundation Representative on the ice. Lots of responsibility, and thus today is the calm before the storm. Here we go……

 

 


 

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