The great Arctic roller-coaster continues, after a couple of days of mileages hampered by open water Penguin Delta came up on the radio last night (Monday) with a definite spring in their step. The ice conditions had improved dramatically, another record day of ten miles had been achieved. With weather conditions showing some signs of improvement Delta set off today with the objective of finding an airstrip suitable for changeover.

The difficulties of finding a strip for the last changeover still fresh in our minds, we were surprised and not a little pleased to have a radio call from Penguin Delta at 15.00 this afternoon saying that they had found an enormous pan of ice some 700 metres long. Camp was set up and with encouraging noises coming from the weather forecast for a suitable window, Penguin Echo were up and away by 18.00 this afternoon for the long haul up to 88 degrees 11mins, some 900 miles from Resolute Bay.

So as we write Penguin Echo are high in the sky, full of the anxieties of their predecessors enhanced by the pressure that they have to complete the job. Penguin Delta could not have done more to lay the path. They have completed some 110 nautical miles northwards and as importantly have clawed back the distance lost to the Easterly ice drift of a couple of weeks ago. So within three hours from now, assuming a smooth changeover, Echo will be on the ice at 88degs 11minsN 75degs 24minsW and taking their first steps northwards to the Pole some 109 miles away.

With 306 miles gone, the final leg begins.