The Oden

This post is for my Dad and Bruce as they fish in FL this winter. Also before I forget, Happy Birthday Brian (he's my brother). When I arrived back in town, I noticed a big ice breaker parked at our dock. A few years back an iceberg by the name of B15 broke off the Ross Ice shelf and blocked our bay. B15 made it so that each summer the ice in front of McM did not "blow out" to sea. So, for the past few years ice breakers have come to clear a way into town so we can offload fuel and supplies for next year.

Oden is the Swedish ice breaker with her 18 crew members that are doing our dirty work. Today I got a tour of the boat.

After waiting about 45min to get on board, the captain welcomed us and brought us to their store. Since I have not had real ice cream (we only have frosty boy here which is made out of edible plastic although it still tastes good) in who knows how long. If it would ship, I would have someone send me some. However on the Oden, they had ice cream bars and I was more than willing to pay the dollar to get one.

Next one of the crew members brought us through the bar (look how nice it is and they even have fresh beer on tap, not 3 year old beer with floaties).

Eventually we made it up the 7 decks to the bridge. The view was amazing and we could see seals and penguins laying on the ice next to the channel they had cut. Apparently the sea ice is still 2-3 meters thick.

Brain (from the Xmas hike at arrival heights) and I did the tour together and since I had a picture of him in front of a bunch of computers from our previous outing, I only thought it appropriate.

After leaving the boat, I saw Amber's good friend Cindy managing people on the dock. I needed to send Amber a good picture as a small thank you so this is for you Amber.