Just doin' what I'm told

Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself. Is this really happening? Since I am supporting handling the balloon during the launch, I might need to go back to the building and get some tools or equipment. The normal method of travel to and from the launch pad is by snow mobile (or snow machine as my sister from Alaska calls them). Since this is a government operation, we had to take a snow mobile safety course. Yup, just following orders. If you want me to drive a snow mobile, I'll take the course. Yea, twist my arm (ha).

Those of us needing the training gathered with the support person and she fitted us with helmets and showed us how to start the things. After a few more minutes of do's and don'ts, we took off to the launch pad in single file. There I was - driving a snow mobile across the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica looking at an erupting volcano. I thought to myself; "I wonder what those 'extreme adventure' tour companies would charge for something like this?" Then I thought; "Holy smokes, I'm getting paid to do this!" Just doin' what I'm told, that's all.