Penguin Alpha covered a storming 6 miles yesterday (Saturday 22nd) rewarding themselves for the labours of the past nine days with a rest day today. Their position tonight is 83deg42minsN 73deg50minsW.

We have spoken on the HF radio to the team on both of the last two nights. Apart from the normal technicalities relayed, messages received from the families of the team were passed over. Being on the Polar Ice Cap for more than a few days is a very lonely experience inspite of having each other as company. Messages from home are therefore great morale boosters, every effort is therefore made to keep the flow going.

Penguin Bravo tonight spend their first night on the ice as part of their training. Their radio check in was loud and clear with no problems being experienced.

The spring equinox mentioned in the update of March 19 is exhibiting itself in more ways than high tidal movement around the world. Here in Resolute we have just witnessed a fantastic lunar eclipse against the clear arctic night sky. A lunar eclipse being when the sun is exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the moon, thereby putting the moon in the earth's shadow for a short period.

Much of the talk in Resolute at this time of year is about the progress of the various expeditions. Inevitably the experience of Alan Bywaters has been a heavy topic. Having lost all his equipment (presumably into a lead) he luckily found the tracks of the British Typhoo team and found their camp. A plane was sent in once the weather cleared, Alan is now recovering from some bad frostbite in Resolute. Better luck to him next time. A warning to everyone of the pitfalls of polar trips.

All for now.