Yesterday another degree was knocked off the seven required for the Penguin Relay to get to the Pole ( from 83 degrees to 90 degrees ). This is fantastic news and it means that each team has had the satisfaction of crossing a degree line. Alpha went through the 84th, Bravo the 85th and now Charlie the 86th. Penguin Charlie radioed in this evening and were congratulated on their achievement. They reported continued drift, generally to the East, and increasing wind speeds. These winds are currently effecting a large area. This evening we had reported to us that heavy winds were happering an expedition's progress which is near the Pole and certainly here in Resolute the wind has been stong for a number of days making life difficult due to large snowdrifts. Tonight the team are camped at 86degs 6minsN, 72deg20minsE at a temperature of -24 deg C, leaving 234 miles to go with 181 behind them.
Hello! It's Sarah, Juliette, Andre, Sue and Rosie here, just back in from the cold. We have just completed our 4th day of polar training. We spent last night 2.9 nautical miles out of Resolute Bay, on the ice. We are now more experienced in the disciplines of camping out in minus zero temperatures - shame about the snoring from Andre, Sue and Sarah, mind you, Rosie screams pretty loudly when having nightmares. Our polar trainer is whipping us into shape as much mentally as physically. The training so far has ranged from, navigational techniques without a compass (which Rosie finds more frightening than crossing an iceberg gulley) to personal hygiene on the snow ( Andre is a whizz at the polar potty technique). We have now learnt how to negotiate ice rubble fields, gulleys and ridges. We are forging very well as a team. We work hard and laugh loud. Juliette has had a slight case of frost nip on her pert little nose, which highlights the importance of being aware of other members of the team, their physical well-being as well as their mental state. Constant vigilance and observation is crucial. Note Sarah's double arse-over-axis act in the snow today, but she's learning. At last. We are all learning 101 ways of cooking dehydrated pasta. Rosie and Juliette, for instance, have established their culinary reputations amongst both the team and the Polar Travel Co bunch after their haute cuisine dinner of a flavorsome Hors d'oeuvre of fried cabbage and peanuts, followed by a memorable Polar Pasta with cabbage and peanuts, climaxing in a sublime pudding - which looked so appetising that it is being saved for next month, all washed down with red wine decanted into chipped mugs from a cardboard box. Michelin Star? Why reach for the stars when you can have the North Pole.
|