Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
being with my kids again. In a way, this intense focus is good, because
it means I don't dwell on the logistics. If I did that, I might go mad. I'll
leave that for Bernie and Greg. What is weird is that, for no apparent
reason, some days I am aching and sluggish, and running my 90 kilo-
metres is a despairing grind, while on other days I fly the distance. No
doubt there is a physiological or psychological reason. But I don't have
the time or inclination to rationalise it. I just run.
Thinking of food takes my mind off the task at hand. I have heard
that Chilean food is excellent, especially the steaks, but I haven't had
anything special to eat here yet. The towns we've gone through have
been small, and the food available very basic. I am looking forward
to reaching Santiago in six or seven days' time and sampling the local
delicacies with Brooke and Dillon. I bet Bernie has found time for
some hearty meals, despite the fact that he recently, thanks to my Aus-
tralian dentist friend Tony Collins, who joined us a few weeks back,
had some emergency dental surgery on the run to fill three large and
infected cavities.
I have to mention that yesterday we entered a road and were hit
with an US$18 toll.
Eighteen dollars!
Never again will I moan about
paying $3 to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
december 7
Bernie has called to say that he is making progress in Santiago and is
also checking out some likely Antarctic gear for me. One item I won't
have to worry about is my skis. At a Red Cross breakfast on the road a
couple of weeks ago, I spoke to a ski company's photo expert, Clemens
Stieboeck, who is sending me some special skis with skins attached.
He says these are a necessity, because there is a constant incline from
the Union Glacier to the South Pole, and the skins give the skis more
grip for trekking uphill.
december 10
As I ran this evening, a beautiful fat and yellow full moon rose over the
mountain range, and its light was so strong I was casting shadows on
the road.
I've struggled the last few days. I think what's happening is that
