McVitie's Penguin Polar Relay - Update 23 May 1997

There's absolutely no doubt that when the big question came about for Penguin Echo 'Were they on for the challenge ahead?' the answer was an emphatic 'YES'! Since the moment they landed on the Arctic Ocean they have taken the expedition by the scruff of its neck. They simply seem to be blasting their way through anything that even thinks it's posing a threat to their progress. Even the pulk-boat must have started to wonder why it was ever taken so far north. Now of course anything could happen, and it probably will, before we're through but rest assured Echo intend to reach the Pole. With the return of the pilots from their recent boat delivery mission were some hastily scribbled notes from Caroline Hamilton who reported spirits were high. We also received a small bag of bits 'n pieces, which had been deemed surplus to requirements and thus unnecessary weight, including loo paper because 'snow wedges' were henceforth to be the order of the day! So I don't think many website readers will feel they could have reduced the pulk weights much lower.

They have started to exploit the strategy of the polar travelling day and we are currently taking their radio and satellite transmissions later and later into the night as they start to extend their ski-ing hours and build up to the final three day push (likely to start on Monday or Tuesday).

These are tense times for the base team too. It's been a long journey in every sense for all the participants and supporters. We find our thoughts constantly flashing over to the effort being expended on the ice and the pressure they are under to pull it off from so many parties (wittingly and unwittingly).

There is an expression I have come to use these last few months, the origins of which are apparently in North America: "It's not over till the fat lady sings." A reference to an impressive singer who 'produced' a victory for the baseball team every time, as it turned out, she had been contracted by them to sing immediately after the game. Well, as Delta lifted off the Arctic Ocean leaving Echo behind, I thought I heard 'her' drawing up outside the stadium entrance. I know only too well it's not over till the fat lady sings, but sitting here in the small hours of the morning, I've heard her starting to warm up and she's sounding in great form.

Penguin Echo tonight are camped at 89deg.19'N 72deg.33'W, 374 nautical miles behind them, 41 to go.