Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FInIsHIng tHe JoB
January 22
We got away today, after a rousing send-off from the expeditioners at
Union Glacier. A few were themselves soon to depart for Longyear-
byen, where it all started for me, to begin preparation for the North
Pole season. I'm glad it's them and not me. I don't know how they do
it. They are very, very tough.
After I meet up with Katie and Javier in Puerto Montt, we have to
drive to the exact spot where I stopped running, about 200 kilometres
south. In the meantime, they have been busy getting fuel, chang-
ing our Chilean pesos into Argentinean pesos, organising internet
connection, broadcast equipment and phone communication. The
phones have been a bugbear. There were satellite phone systems in
the Arctic and Antarctic, and these are expensive and temperamental,
and there is also a different phone system in every country we have
passed through that we have had to link with.
January 23
It's Brooke's birthday tomorrow. I remember asking Lisa, when she
was pregnant with Brooke, if she could hold on until Australia Day,
because it would be great for her to be born on such a significant day.
I won't repeat the reply I received. Chile is a day behind Australia, so
my thoughts are with Brooke today. I wonder if she has received the
basket of flowers, chocolates and fruit I ordered for her.
Today has been a crazy day of re-packing ice gear and rushing to
catch planes in order to meet up with Katie and Javier. I finally arrived
at Puerto Montt, and as I walked to the luggage carousel I could see
them through the glass. I felt overjoyed to see them. I am sharing the
