Penguin Charlie are all well but frustrated by difficult ice conditions. It would appear that the storms of the recent past have caused many breaks in the pack ice, creating a multiplicity of leads which are to say the least a nightmare to navigate through. It is like being in a maze with an uneven surface, burdened with a weight at ones feet, unable to find any high ground and with a mist around the water, restricting visiblity. Furthermore the easterly drift that the team were experiencing during the storms has not abated. Consequently Penguin Charlie have to progress in a North West direction to avoid being pushed too far East. So, with a comination of a maze of leads and a drift forcing a course away from true North, despite 9 hours of walking today it was only possible to cover 5.5 miles in a northerly direction. Tonights camp is at 86 degrees 18 mins N, 66 degrees 1 min W.

It was good to hear the team this evening on the radio, grateful messages were passed on, which I'm sure will encourage them over the last couple of days before the changeover to Penguin Delta. There are some 14 miles to go before the half way point between land and the Pole, so I am sure that this milestone will be firmly set in their minds.

It is always good to hear from the "Penguin Girls" on the radio and there is always a moment when we at base camp try to recognise the voice which is invaribly distorted over the radio. I suppose using a HF radio for the first time is a bit like the first time on a telephone, some are like a duck to water whilst others are a bit more wary. It was interesting to note that Victoria Riches was a complete natural utilizing her person to person skills that are essential in her work at Angela Mortimer Recruitment Consultants.

This evening Penguin Delta were listening in to the radio communications and wished their colleagues a good last couple of days . Delta have now finished their training which has seen them in a range of practically the worst the Arctic can offer to the best. After the blizzards, we have now just experienced two glorious days, big blue skies, precious little wind and a balmy 8 degrees C ( minus of course ).

Over the next day or so Penguin Delta will make their final preparations, check their gear time and time again ( there is no going back once you are on the aeroplane ) pack their pulks, weigh them in at the air carrier and then focus, in their own individual way on the coming days. It is a difficult time for them, there is nothing more they can do. Everyone is exceptionly fit and has trained and understands the issues of dealing with the intense cold of polar travel. We know that every member of the team is capable of handling the task ahead and in themselves as individuals they probably know they can go out and do it. The real pressure comes from the relay element, it comes from the fact that this is not about any one individual, this is about a team of twenty whose indivdual strenghts will enable four British women, with no polar experince, to reach the North Pole. This is where the real pressure comes from. Twelve team members have gone before and all exerted themselves hour upon hour, day upon day and have achieved. They now must do likewise and hand on that batton to the last four to give the Relay the chance of reaching the Pole.

Penguin Delta's plane won't be alone in heading North. As the light at the North Pole has becomes stronger over the last couple of weeks, so it has brought up here those expeditions which are travelling just that last degree or two to reach the Pole, as well as those who are simply taking a plane there for that utimate experience. Yesterday an American team set off with dogs to cover the last 120 miles from 88 degrees to the Pole. Before they set off they dropped in to our Base Camp to see how the Penguin Relay was doing. What astounded me was that they said as far as they were aware everyone in America seemed to know about the British womens relay to the Pole. Apparently it is covered regularly on prime national television, CNN etc and was carried recently from the East coast to the West coast on the prime 8 o'clock news slot on the Today TV show. Equally here in Canada we see regular coverage updateing Canadians on the progress of this unique event. Yet in Britain the TV companies seem to think the public wouldn't be interested this British event although the USA, NZ, Canada and others are. It beats me but then again I'm not a British media man!

193 miles gone, 207 to go.