Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
January 15
I am now within striking distance of the South Pole—after today's
good run of 60 kilometres, there are just 145 kilometres to go. I'm fad-
ing, but so is the vehicle. Sometimes I think this is a race between me
and the machine, to see who breaks down first. Put your money on me
coming in ahead. I have to confess the truck
looks
better than I do—I
have ice caking my hair and eyebrows and snot-icicles hanging from
my nose. At least there was no wind today.
I can see the horizon from end to end and discern the curve of
the earth. To reach the support vehicle 10 kilometres ahead I have to
run to the horizon twice. I really am at the pointy end of the planet. I
saw a rainbow in the distance today, near the pole, caused by the sun
shining through the falling snow. It's beautiful, ravishingly beautiful,
but the going is too hard now for me to take much solace in the beauty.
January 16
The will remains strong, but the amount of energy I need simply to
survive is beyond what is left in my brutalised body. I don't know how,
but I am still moving. I am like the walking dead, oblivious to anything
or anyone around me. I am focused on the snowflakes on the ground
and the line that is left in the snow by the skidoo up ahead. I am mes-
merised by that track.
I ran 60 kilometres today. The truck broke down again. Just
85 kilometres to go.
January 17
I am aiming to reach the pole in the mid-afternoon tomorrow, because I
have media commitments with the Nine Network, and they are ada-
mant that I am to go to air live on the
Today
show at 7 am, which is
about 3 pm here. The media is absolutely critical if I am to raise the
needed funds for the Red Cross. If I can somehow impart to viewers
how hard I'm doing it, perhaps they will be inclined to donate.
Scott arrived at the pole 100 years ago today. I won't get there
till tomorrow—it's been slow going and I've only made 50 kilometres
today.
