As the Delta team continue their very steady trek Northwards, the weather seems to be continuing to be reasonably kind to them. In Resolute Bay we have had the first cloudy day since the arrival of Penguin Echo and myself on Tuesday (another girl in Resolute - this time as Base staff, released from the attic in Devon), and last night's radio call from the Delta team on the ice indicated that they would experience the same weather as we have today.

Over the last two days they have walked a further 12 miles North, and significantly have moved five degrees to the West. They are currently camped at 86deg. 57 min. North, 66deg. 52min. West. This movement of five degrees to the West is the result of a combination of walking slightly West of true North in order to counteract the Easterly drift that they had experienced in previous days, and interestingly some Westerly drift. It is a continuing debate as to whether one should walk in the direction of true North at all times, or one should try to counter the ocean drift that threatens to take the Team into what is known to be an area of even higher drift.

The Team are generally trying to stay within a narrow band of longitude that is centred around 74deg.West - to either side of this band, the ocean currents tend to push you either to the South East (on the Easterly side ) or to the South West( on the Westerly side). Until the storms of two weeks ago, the teams had remained remarkably close to the ideal longitude of 74deg.West. Whilst Penguin Charlie and Penguin Delta walked in directions chosen to counteract the drift, other expeditions do not always adopt the same policy, preferring to rely upon a possible reverse drift taking them back to their original planned route at some point in the future. We have discussed this issue with our teams on the ice, and with many past and present polar expeditions, and continue to do so - there is no guaranteed right or wrong tactic, as with so many aspects of expeditions. Ultimately the Penguin team do what we all feel is best for our progress in reaching our goal of the North Pole.

We said goodbye this evening to The Times journalist, and to the McVitie's P.R. representative, and look forward to the resulting article on the 17th May. I personally am finding life here in the high Arctic amazing - all one's expectations and more. However much you try to learn about it before you arrive, the reality is not quite what you have imagined. It is very beautiful, and I am aware that I am in a region of the world that a lot of people will never get to (and won't want to in some cases!), and am intending to take some good memories back with me at the end.

Penguin Delta now have 232 miles behind them, with 183 more to go.