Exploring Around Town and Local Beaches

 I am out of an eight-day quarantine and moved into a barracks room. Wifi is difficult and costs about $8 per hour at the Volcano Club on base. I lucked out this evening and got everything uploaded. Posting may be few and far between. We are a small dot in the South Atlantic Ocean so kinda "off-the-grid."

While in quarantine I call the dining hall with my breakfast, lunch, and dinner orders from menus. For this dinner, I just wanted soup and asked if they had cookies. I was sent a plate of 10 cookies.

A South Atlantic Sunset.

My usual breakfast of oatmeal, walnuts, and fruit. All the serving plates are marked "this plant-based product will reduce to soil in 90 days."

The triwal I packed at Patrick's Air Force Base came on my 5,000 C-17 flight. I am out of quarantine and moved into the barracks.

I sent down 340 pounds of stuff along with two 50 pound checked bags.

My first jog was about a mile to the coast. I guess I won't be swimming here.

I haven't seen a blowhole since living on Kauai. Ascension has several along the coast.

This island reminds me of the Big Island of Hawaii as it is all volcanic.

A nice sandy beach but there are warnings of sometimes large rogue waves that break on the beach and that can take you out to sea.

It really is beautiful and totally isolated.

A small fishing boat in the background.

Lots of large crabs around.

I work Satellite Communications. This is the old station. I haven't gotten a picture of the new one where I work yet.

My barracks with a large volcanic cinder cone in the background. Ascension is full of these cinder cones. I would love to have a mountain bike to ride here. I was told this one is hikeable.

I am living in a very spacious room that was originally built for two. I share the two sink large bathroom with a person in the next room. A very nice quiet setting.

A nice-sized refrigerator.

And a full size bed. Home sweet home.

The arrow marks my home away from home.

Ascension Island Mike

 It's certainly not Antarctica! After 6 winters and a combined 4.5 years living on the Antarctic ice at all three US stations, I decided to switch it up a bit for a warmer adventure work setting. I deployed Tuesday, September 14th to Ascension Island on a C-17 from Patrick's Space Force Base. The flight took about 13 hours. I will be working Satellite Communications as I did in Antarctica. 

I deployed from Patricks Air Force Base (aka Space Force Base) on a C-17 similar to this one that I deployed to Antarctica from Christchurch, New Zealand.

                                

This was my last Antarctic flight on a C-17. I am third from the left.

Ascension Island is even more remote than Antarctica and a bit warmer since it is 8 degrees south of the equator.!

Lots of room to spread out. I slept quite well stretched out on the deck.

                                             This was my 7th C-17 flight.

The view from my quarantine barracks. The island is volcanic.

A large garden area.

Today's lunch  - Baked Swai fish.

The quarantine barrack for 8-14 days.

                                                            A very nice barracks.