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Tuesday it will be
- February 27, 2010
- 7 Comments
After a clear night with a full moon shining on my bed, I woke to a clear day. The better weather also brought a slow but steady trickle of hopeful polar travelers. The preparation room quickly turned into a hive of activity. Everyone unpacking their bags, sorting, amending and exchanging advice with each other.
This year there are a total of 16 people in different formations all attempting the pole. A rather high number especially when you also realize that the ice is the worst it has been in many years. Talk centered inevitable on where and when we would be dropped off. What satellite pictures anyone had seen and how we felt about the real possibility that we may have to be dropped off-shore.
There are open leads up to 10 KM wide just off the projected drop-off spot that run along most of the coast. The temperatures are not low enough for them to freeze quickly and the ice drift is in the opposite direction to what it should be…. and to boot the full moon gives the greatest motion to the sea.
With this in mind, it is not entirely a bad thing that I have now been given a Tuesday slot. With any luck things will have stabilized, but we may also be able to land at Ward Hunt where the ice is a bit better.
One of the locals gave Michele and I a ride to some open water where we could have a paddle. A painful ride in the cage behind his snowmobile brought us to an enormous lead just 40 minute down the bay where we swam with Beluga whales. Both the open water and the Belugas are far too early an occurrence for this time of year.
Tom the Australian will leave in the morning and we will miss him and wish him well. His website is www.onemanepic.com. He did not say good bye before taking up one last challenge by Luca for an armwrestle….
I took advantage of the fact that it was my birthday to have two pieces of rather delicious cake, and now I wobble off to bed.
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Comments
Dede Johnston says: I am so happy you had some cake Christina..I was worried about that! Happy happy birthday best wishes xxxxx Here in the Himalayas there is a huge thunderstorm so no skiing today but all this is ok as I caught up on much needed sleep and will explore the village later. Anyway it is snowing up higher and we had a beautiful ski day yesterday. GOOD LUCK, I am always thinking of you and sending you lots of love and strength. xxxxxxxxxxx dd
Christina, so pleased you had a friend-, cake- and beluga-whale-filled birthday – I can’t think of a better combination! Expect you are impatient to get underway and we remember the storming way you took off in the 2005 North Pole Race. Will be following you all the way, much love, Cathy and all at Rhino HQ
Robert Morrisson Atwater says: Christina
Avanti Bersaglieri!!Fantozzi Gelato di Mare–
Strong like a Rhino charge on!!
Robert
Tracy Blackwell says: Today is the day! Thinking of you and your epic journey ahead. We will all be thinking of you. Be strong and safe. All love from me and J and A.
Roberta Bass says: You must be on the ice. I think of you constantly during the day, especially when I am complaining to myself about the weather here in CT. Be strong, safe, and happy. Sending big hugs. Roberta
Bubba says: Mumma,
Happy, happy birthday. I have been thinking of you so much over the last couple of days. Hopefully, you managed to celebrate in some style. Knowing you I’m sure, yes.
You now need to wake the beast that is General Franco up and get him steely for your kick off on Tuesday. Good luck you glorious person and may you have the fairest wind behind you and all the luck that you most definately deserve.
What an adventure and what a adventurer you are! Big love, Bubba
Christina! How can I email you? I think of you everyday – of all the things that will inspire you as you walk to the North – you will be strong, careful and persistent and can’t wait to continue to hear from you. Keep the updates going – we love it!