Penguin Delta are now at 87deg 57 min North, 75 deg 32 min West (292 NM done, 123 NM to go). 3 NM more to reach 88 degrees; 8 NM more to have completed 300 NM since the departure from Ward Hunt Island.

Over the radio tonight, Penguin Delta reported that for the last two days the weather has been overcast, light winds, poor contrast and by implication thoroughly uninspiring travelling conditions and impossible change-over conditions. But they have been gritting their teeth and doing excellent mileages despite this, and the more substantial delays caused by numerous tracts of open water.

Open water was the theme of the day; and not a pleasant one. Cracks in the ice from a few centimetres (which presented no difficulty but highlighted the rate of the ice disintegration at this stage in the season) to leads many metres wide, some with open water, which forced the team to make numerous detours to the west and east to find a crossing point.

So the distance done would have been far greater than the mileage actually north would suggest. If it's not one thing (eg drift) then it's another (eg open water). We suspect these themes to emerge more and more from now on - but perhaps the biggest impact is on the mind. Despite ever greater effort the rewards, in terms of mileage, don't necessarily seem apparent at night in the tent. The key thing Delta know is that every effort spent by them now will make the Pole that much more possible for Penguin Echo. Every slackened step now may have to be made up for in even more difficult circumstances by Echo which may simply not be possible. It's a race against time - and the inevitable break-up of the sea ice.

The weather has been so overcast, the lighting so flat and with so little contrast that no change-over has been possible; and the guides are having to continue to head north until the deteriorating weather improves. Fortunately, one or two potential landing strips have been spotted each day; so as soon as the weather improves the relay teams should be able to change-over. As always, the tension builds here at the base as the next team try to prepare themselves for the challenge ahead - and Penguin Delta keep pushing themselves onwards until the weather relents.

"Well, we're back in one piece after our 3 nights out on the ice. Since we've been here, each day is a new challenge. From the first day on skis. then pulling pulks to doing six hour days pulling fully laden pulks. I face each hurdle with slight trepidation just hoping I'm going to manage OK - and so far so good.

So the final episode before the real thing, three days and three nights on the ice. Big push the first day - 10 NM - the last bit all uphill. My legs turned to jelly. I worry slightly. With each day I feel stronger and stronger, and feel I can carry on more hours than we do. Spectacular landscape as we leave the sea ice and head up for some frozen lakes and steep ravines into the hills. We have to negotiate our pulks up 20 foot sheer ridges, through narrow passes with huge cornices (no shouting!) - but it was exhilarating. Did 10, 7 and 10 NM over the three days.

It's amazing how you can control your bowel habits when you need to. Daily rations get a bit unpalatable, especially eating raw butter. So we've spent all today making fudge and flapjack out of the butter, nuts and raisins.

Final preparations underway with kit. We need to trim it down as much as possible - light and fast!

All in all, we got over the final hurdle, the team is fit and strong and ready for the final assault ...