Travel Reference
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sorted with her house, family and 'real job' at the gym. She has been
loyal, super-eficient and a joy to have around.
Bernie went to collect Brooke and Dillon from the airport today
and should be bringing them back up the highway to me. He called at
one-thirty to say they had arrived safe and well, and I expected them
to get to us by four o'clock, but now it's ten o'clock and there is no sign.
My eyes are peeled for every set of headlights in the distance, hoping
it's them.
december 13
At last the kids are here again. It's funny how having them around makes
the road seem shorter and me seem stronger. Remember Popeye and
his spinach, well that's the effect Brooke and Dillon have on me.
I'm determined to set the record for the fastest man to cross the
ice to the South Pole. I plan to run 65 kilometres a day. The current
record was set by a Norwegian who trekked, I'm told, at an average of
18 kilometres a day, although he was alone and unassisted, and had
to erect and dismantle his own tent. I'll be accompanied by Eric and
Ming. I will happily settle for the assisted record.
december 16
Today has been like running in Technicolor, as I've passed through
fields of vivid yellow canola and wheat, red and yellow wildflowers,
and green rice plantations and vineyards, all under a bright blue sky.
Chilean wine is delicious, and I had a chance to sample some last
night, the first wine I've sipped since Longyearbyen many, many
months ago. We came by the wine when we filmed a live cross with
Channel Nine's
Today
show in the parking lot of a general store, off
the busy highway. I felt odd using the car park without repaying the
owner so asked Bernie to load up on provisions there. The lady who
ran the place was so delighted that she pressed two bottles of excel-
lent white wine into Bernie's hands and insisted he accept them with
her compliments. We enjoyed her largesse. Chile's wines have won
many international awards, and Chile is the fourth highest supplier
of wine to the United States. Naturally, with a four o'clock start this
morning, I didn't overindulge, but not because I didn't want to. I've
