Gobi March Blogs 2015

Dee Pontifex

8

Posts

Gobi March (2015) blog posts from Dee Pontifex

06 June 2015 04:28 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

there is still one post to be uploaded. We are now back in hotel washed and feet up. Gosh what an eventful last 24hours. I ended up sleeping only about 3 hours

Comments: Total (3) comments

Lucy MacKellar

Posted On: 07 Jun 2015 05:38 am

Top job Team Pontifex! You did it! Sounds like you've done amazingly to get through all that and your inner strength didn't desert you!!!! I'm sure you've got mixed emotions about the race and the finish! We can always construct a finish line and get you to do the last 10K here!!! Enjoy your day off and have a safe trip home! Looking forward to seeing you! x

Kassie Pontifex

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 08:45 am

I love you Mummy and Daddy. Hope you don't have anymore blisters. Looking forward to seeing you on Monday and talking later on today. Love Kassie xoxoxo

Tiffany Ellis

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 07:15 am

haha sounds about right!! well done hun another race done and dusted. As I type our girls are chatting away on skype. Enjoy some rest in a bed before going home. xxx

05 June 2015 07:29 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

We did it, we did it! The long march completed, start time 8am, finish time 1.45am, 80k. a long tough one (Lucy thanks for correct description, not confused anymore). Well you are probably wondering what it was like, surprisingly no snow, no rain, this time heat (up to mid 40

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03 June 2015 03:30 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Well thanks for emails and blog comments. Sarah what a scream, probably does sound funny that Kassie's mummy slept in a rubbish bag, believe me it saved me from freezing. Dad the Moir thighs are going strong but this time my feet have the blisters, but luckily not as bad as Steve's the previous years. Geri loving the fudge, now starting to melt! You can tell Gav as an ex-forces dude it was a case of survival to keep warm, over the sleeping bag of course. Glad Aunty Shell has joined then coffee club, lol. Cathy, everyone is good, thanks for messages.

Well stage 4 finished, 8am to 4.30ish, 42k done. Surprise no snow or rain today and finally heated up. Lucky us just in time for tomorrows long march only 80k (jumping with joy!!!!). Still reasonably rocky terrain. We are both doing fine, tomorrow will just be one step in front of the other. hopefully the blisters do not give any grief, but if hubby managed to do it last year, should be nothing stoping me. So while you are all enjoying yourselves do spare us a thought!

There will be no update from us as will be out there somewhere and will finish at some time.

Kassie daddy did make a snowman and snow balls to bring home, but they melted today. Sending you lots of hugs and kisses. Missing you heaps. Love you so much.xxxx

Comments: Total (4) comments

Lucy MacKellar

Posted On: 05 Jun 2015 07:30 pm

Hey crazy gang! Been thinking of you lots and hoping today's long march has been kind to you?! You're so nearly there... You go girl!😛😤🏃🏼keep marching to the 🔚!! Had a lovely arvo with Kassie and Aunty Shell yesterday! Lots of swimming, pizza and ice cream!!! Well, it was the end of a tiring week and she's been such a good girl!!! We did have fruit and veg snacks when we first got home, I promise! Your sister is such good company... needless to say, Kassie and Georgia were trying to engineer a sleepover last night!!! Thisnknofnthat yummy bath awaiting you and big hugs from your girl and you'll get through before you know it!!! Looking forward to seeing you next week!! xxx

Kassie Pontifex

Posted On: 05 Jun 2015 01:54 pm

We now all have blisters as I have two also. GO MUMMY GO DADDAY. Looking forward to you coming home. Hugs and Kisses Kassie xoxoxo

Sarah Moffitt

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 05:37 pm

Oh my gosh, have just been browsing the site and saw that you have done this whole crazy adventure thing before!!! You never mentioned that you were a sucker for punishment! Can't even begin to imagine what this past day has been like for you.... As I sit on my feather/down couch with my feet up and iPad out, sipping a mojito!!! 😂 I continue to be in awe of you both though, I'm sure you did incredibly well and are now in need of some much needed sleep! All is good on the home front. Your wee poppet is being incredibly grown up about this whole thing, I am so so proud of how she is coping! Aunty Shel has things well in hand and Kassie is a happy little camper (in the luxury of home as opposed to your crazy camping! :-)) She will be able to tell you all about Ireland and India when you get back. She has been doing a bit of river dance mixed in with some Bollywood today, along with henna painting and Chapati making...... See what you are missing out on!!!! Miss your face at the door each morning, looking forward to hearing all the gory details when you get back!! Keep going hard, you can do it! KIA KAHA, KIA KAHA, KIA KAHA!! Go Kiwi (& slightly more begrudgingly- go Aussie...) GO!!! xxx

ted moir moir

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 05:54 am

saw 3 good photos on the photo sight of you both,are you sure you are not in Lapland already.all the best for the big one ,I am sure you bring each other through. love dadxx

02 June 2015 03:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Well stage 3 done and dusted, 41.5k, arrived just over 8 hours. All I can say is OMFG, I will not go into too much detail, but as always will paint the picture. 8am start, nice rocky walk only for about 8 hours, rain started about 9am until 4pm, but hey we had an hour to semi-dry out the majority of our clothing before we got to camp, and on top it off freezing and when Mr P is also cold it is freezing!. I am happy to discuss the ins and outs with whoever when back, would just hate to put a first timer off. Anyway hopefully get a good night sleep on the nice rocky surface and hope my inflatable doesn't burst. I really need to look up the definition of desert, as really confused, umm snow, rain!

Once again thanks for messages you really have no idea what they mean to us. LOL Sarah that would be about right with Miss Kassie, thanks for update and a big hello from Gobi Desert to NE. Kassie mummy and daddy big kisses and cuddles, thinking of you lots xxx Megan Ralph says hello, funny thing is just asked chappie beside me and it was Ralph.

Will leave it there both of us are fine. A couple of little blisters, me more than Steve this time. Well until the next update.

Comments: Total (4) comments

Kassie Pontifex

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 07:37 pm

Auntie Shell here. Miss Kassie is doing fine, a big day for her so she was off to bed early. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back home. Take care and love to you both - Michelle

Lucy MacKellar

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 06:32 pm

Hello my lovely... Has taken me forever to search for the blog site again.... Oh me of little memory these days!!! This sounds like an adventure like no other!!! Somewhere between torture and euphoria-can't wait to hear the "live" version of events!! Have checked on definition of desert and then Gobi Desert!! The two don't really sit together too closely! Desert: "a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all" Gobi Desert Facts: only 5% sand dunes; lies in a rain shadow caused by the Himalayas; it is a cold desert; contrary to most images of deserts, much of the Gobi is not sandy, but covered with bare rock"!! Oh golly...not sure I'm helping!!! Thank god you are made of strong stuff and have Steve by your side!!! You guys get through this, you'll get through anything! Brings a whole new meaning to "You rock!" Kassie and Aunty Shell seem to be doing fab... they're coming over for a play tomorrow arvo! Hope you get a "solid" night's sleep!! You go girl!!! Lots of Love and a big Georgie hugga!! xxx

Sheryl Rowe

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 11:40 am

Totally in awe of you undertaking this huge adventure!! Safe journey to you both xx

Tiffany Ellis

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 09:50 am

Hey hun, sorry to have been a bit shite keeping up with you this time. All good now but had a big distraction with Paige. Sounds like you're getting another life thrill and I can't wait to hear all about it. As always keep pushing. xx

01 June 2015 04:25 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Well another day down, stage 2. Interesting to say the least, if this wasn't a public blog I would write what I really feel. Anyone to start with we are both fine after a long 10 hours. The day started off with more snow, and a trek up a mountain (vertical climb) covered in snow. Umm thought we were doing Gobi desert not Antarctica, that was a wonderful experience I never really want to repeat. Then another 30k over dirt road, which once again lots of fun. Sorry short update but hopefully a more detailed one tomorrow. Don't be afraid to send us emails and blog comments. Darling little Kassie mummy and daddy love you so much. You would probably never understand how much you gave mummy the will to keep moving forward today (even though daddy helped to).

Comments: Total (5) comments

ted moir

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 10:45 pm

great going,half way already,all down hill now,hope your bodies are holding up,keep those moir thighs working hard,weatherman not making things easy so keep it up..love to both dad.

Geri Pare

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 07:16 pm

Alwite mate!! How's the frozen fudge? We're sweating our eyeballs out here. Michelle's doing a great job, even keeping up with the Starbucks mornings ha! Gav wants to know what happened to your sleeping bag? (Bin bag??)Sounds like you're in for a challenge, but if I know you, you'll see it through (very poetic that you know). Will keep check on you, off to my nice comfy bed now ;P Stay safe xx

Kassie Pontifex

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 03:28 pm

Love you Mummy and Daddy - missing you both. Did you make me a snowman??? Go Mummy Go Daddy Go Mummy Go Daddy... Love Kassie

ted moir

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 08:29 am

glad your having fun.helping brent to send a comment love dad

Sarah Moffitt

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 06:27 am

Sounds so hard, keep going, maybe it will get easier...??? :-/ Have been talking to the kids about what you are doing, Kassie told everyone about you sleeping in the rubbish bag! Needless to say the children found that funnier than i assume you did! :-) Keep going, you have got this!!! xxx

31 May 2015 02:35 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Well day one completed. A tough first night at camp, freezing was an understatement, I even put

Comments: Total (3) comments

Sarah Moffitt

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 04:25 am

Morning!You are amazing... still sounds like my idea of HELL!!!! :-) Just wanted to tell you that your baby is doing great at school. She has come in happily every morning (maybe we need Aunty Shell to bring her every day!:-) and has had really good days, she is holding up really well :-) Also wanted to say that a TA was needed in Nursery B today... but no, you are in the middle of some crazy race in China! May have some interesting news on that front however, will fill you in when you come back to civilisation! All the best, you are an inspiration! Love and hugs from Nursery E. xxx

Kassie Pontifex

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 03:50 pm

What are doing? I love you Mummy and Daddy. Missing you very much. I'm sleeping with your photo every night. Looking forward to you coming home. See you soon. Love Kassie (hugs and kisses)

Megan Stewart

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 04:00 am

Hi there, you don't know me but I know what you are experiencing, enjoy every moment, push through the hard bits, It is an amazing journey. Can you say a big Hi to crazy Ralph Crowley for me, and a hug for Belinda H - they are previous RTP mates of mine. Also how is Deo Carnation going, wanted to message him but he is not blogging - say a big hi to him...Send my regards to Sam and the management team. I am watching you all , jealously. Go kiwi go..Megan

29 May 2015 01:30 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

well we have made it to Hami. Tomorrow the formalities begin - briefing, checkin and then

Comments: Total (1) comments

Michelle Clifford

Posted On: 30 May 2015 10:13 am

"Remember it mind over matter" and everything is fine on the home front. You are going to be surprise at what Kassie can now do in the swimming pool. Big hugs and kisses to Mummy and Daddy from Kassie

21 May 2015 05:43 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Well hubby is on his way (safe journey) and I follow in a few days. All the gear has gone with hubby, hope nothing gets taken in customs. Would

Comments: Total (3) comments

Tiffany Ellis

Posted On: 21 May 2015 07:04 pm

Just like last year I'll tell you "the journey of 1000 miles starts with just 1 step"

Shar Dean

Posted On: 21 May 2015 06:13 pm

Good luck you mad buggers! I'm not convinced that your finger won't be hurting too - but looking forward to your next instalment :) Shar

Lucy MacKellar

Posted On: 21 May 2015 05:57 pm

Dee & Steve.... wishing you lots of luck, safety, energy and vanilla fudge as you embark on this awesome challenge! Totally in awe of what you are about to do and will be willing you on! Promise to take care of Kassie and Aunty Shell! You rock!! Lots of Love... the big & little MacKs xx