Here is a brief report, nothing dramatic. We both have a job now – drilling for water. I’ll explain that. We’re working on the runway at Ice Station Borneo. The shafts on the tractor that was doing the job are broken, so it all has to be done by hand. The spare parts are being flown in tonight, along with fuel for the helicopters, and dropped by parachute.
We have been promised that the airdrop will also include our package. All that great food we’ve been waiting for will arrive tonight. It’s a bit close to the date we’re going home; Mike and I wish we had more time to munch and enjoy the delicacies, snacks and tasty tidbits – but I guarantee you that it will be a feast!
Like I said, we’re helping on the runway. The holes and bumps need to be even out to ensure a safe landing. Here is how it’s done: With an ice drill we makes holes all the way through the 1.5–2 metre thick ice. Since the immense weight of the ice is pressing down on the sea, seawater is pushed up through these holes. The water flows out, fills all the holes and cracks, and freezes to a nice even surface. We have no pump here at Borneo, so that’s why we’re drilling for water.
We still have a ways to go – the runway is about one kilometre long. But it will all be ready for the aeroplane that’s landing Monday night, to pick us up and carry us homeward.
That’s our report from Ice Station Borneo, just over 50 km from the North Pole.
