Helllooo! Thank you all for emails and blogs. Love the vomit sayings Ms. Rocket (& I am sure that roger will appreciate when I share)! Can’t wait to see your new do! Kel, sooo excited that you’ve booked your flight – email, email me! Geeenius surname! J

Well, where to start? Awesome day. Just after I finished writing last time, we went up on deck and saw spout holes – from a distance, but still soo cool. Just listened to a talk about whaling, and hard to imagine, that 60 years ago this ocean was alive with spout holes. By 1931 humans had massacres 175, 000 whales, and 46,000 between the years of 1937-8. One theory for the rare sightings of blue whales is that they have a very good memory, and are still scared of boats. Humpbacks however, have a shorter lifespan and are on to the next generation. Anyhoo, enough of whales- the run!! 

Apparently King George;s island is one of the less attractive Antarctic islands, but I tell you I was impressed! The circuit was like a figure of 8,which we ran 5.5 times. The sunlight ensured that it never got boring though, casting a new scene on the beautiful white landscape as it moved.and the blue ocean contrasted beautifully with the pearly white. At one turnaround point there was a whale carcass – so fascinating. One of the vertebrae was as large as my diaphragm, the jawbone about 1.5 times my height. The other turnaround point involved going through what I would describe as a ceiling-less corridor. I would say snow running is a lot harder than sand running, mainly because of it’s unpredictability, every third, fourth, seventh, fifth step you would take a big drop up to your knee – making us look like drunkards stumbling across the ice. For the most part is was just entertaining, and Roger and I took a couple of stacks mucking around on the hills. 

We met some Uruguarian researchers, and it was fascinating chatting with them. They said that we were AMAZINGLY lucky with the weather, over the past 8 months, they had only had four days like our “mild” sunny day we had. Sorry P, no temperatures to report, but I tell you the wind makes a massive difference, and I am very grateful for my windproof gear. The researchers have internet, phone, but effectively live on tinned food, no fresh fruit and veg for one year – could you imagine?

The most exciting part of the day was at the end. Let’s hope I can explain it. Basically cut-off was 8.30pm, but if you get back before 8.15pm you have the option to go and do another loop. We got back at 8pm. People were retiring then, but we requested to go on for one more…it was great to see the look of disbelief on everyone’s faces as they agreed. We were the last people back finishing at 9.40pm. That last hour was such an adventure. I am sooo so pleased we made the decision to go on. The sun dropped, and the true nature of Antarctica was revealed. The temperature dropped, and it felt like we were in survival mode. The fingers went numb almost immediately, and it was like catch 22, to be able to fumble around to put more clothes on. It was really quite scary, and I did for an instance turn into girly mode, as I run up to Roger, asking him to “help me”! The team got on sooo well today, I am/was really happy, but I tell you, it took all we could to hang back with Greg, I just wanted to run and run to warm-up and get to my dropbag with another 3 layers of clothing waiting for me. I cannot imagine what frostbite must feel like. I bet any “local” would be guffawing at us, saying that it was “freezing”, but anyway it was just such an awesome experience, just to see just how scary and dangerous a climate it is, and how the unprepared would be shown no mercy.

We got back to ship about 10pm, and bless the staff has a hot buffet waiting for us; so kind.

Up early this morning, to see the views as we sailed into Deception island. Sooo beautiful, and pretty cool going through a thin layer of ice. Apparently in winter, Antarctica stretches for 5kms more in ice. Woo. Winds were 50 knots, so all activities are off. We are off to another destination now, maybe to run this afternoon, but I doubt it. Mixed reactions; some disappointed (me), some very relieved I think!

We saw penguins yesterday. They are so incredibly cute…and inquisitive, waddling up to us to have a look! There will be a talk soon learning all about them – I can’t wait! Their white bellies look almost pearl-like in the sunlight. 

Oh, one another thing that surprised me (sorry, no time to structure this), was just how bright it was. If you did try to take your sunglasses off, it was properly blinding – wow! I lathered and lathered sunblock on my face, and have still come out with some colour, though relative to the bright pink or red faces wandering around the ship, I have come off very lightly!

Right, best go. Willam, thanks for your message – get saving/fundraising, you would love it!

Getting on particularly well with an animated, enthusiastic American chick, unrelated to the race, and two lovely Australian/English couples. Roger was talking to the organizer today, and she mentioned, that if roger and I can get through just one of these deserts together, let alone 4, we are destine for each other….awww!