Submitted on October 20th @ 10:39pm local time (Chile Day 4)
An important day of final tests of our communication equipment. Each team will carry two satellite telephones which are our lifeline to the logistics base at Union glacier. We are required to inform them daily with our current position, distance travelled and any medical issues. Solar energy will provide all our power needs which include the phone, cameras, video cameras and even ipods.
Even though we are only four and a half hours flying time from the Antarctic it seems much further as we sit patiently waiting for the first, delayed, flight to leave – possibly on Friday. Then it will be our turn.
But a good sign that we are edging closer is that all our equipment is being weighed tomorrow ready for the flight. In readiness for this, last minute impulsive buying of totally useless pieces of equipment has been undertaken by some members of the team !
Finally, Lennie Browne leaves tonight’s audio message. A member of the Amundsen team, he is particularly proud of his Irish roots and the strong link his homeland has with the heroic age of polar exploration through tough and inspiring men such as Tom Crean and Ernest Shackleton.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO REPORT
Submitted on October 20th @ 10:10pm (local)
Today's audio update is from Lennie Browne, member of the Amundsen team. Lennie is pictured here in Chile yesterday (20/10) preparing his equipment
We apologise for the intermittent audio at the beginning of this report. Audio reports are submitted via satellite phone, which sometimes suffer from a loss of service.
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Dear Henry – thinking of you so much in your last few hours of warmth. Loving your updates and we all crowd around the computer to hear.
So much luck to you. We are deeply proud of you and look forward to an eveningful of camp fire stories for your next trip here – soon please!!!!
Love and huggs from us ALL and a ‘big pinch’ from you know who!!
Be safe to all those in the two teams.
F, J, H, T and L and pf course P xxxxxxxxxxxxxx… oooooooo……
Great to hear from the Oman team; +40c ! Thanks for your support.
All well here but slightly frustrating having to wait – never mind.
Hope half term is going well with lots of camping and wadi swims.
Pinches all round.
xxxxxhenry
Lieber Vic, noch mal von Oberstdorf liebe Gruesse für
Dich. Morgen geht es ja dann weiter zum Stützpunkt
Wir wünschen Euch, dass Alles erfolgreich verläuft ,
bleibe gesund und herzliche Gruesse von Der ganzen
Familie Birgitt
Thank you Peter. Your knowledge of the area we are travelling over has been invaluable.
I am so thrilled you can re-live part of your inspiring years on the Antarctic through our expedition.
I do hope you enjoy the book – it is deliberately honest !
Kia Ora
Henry
Would love examples of the last-minute buying of ‘useless pieces of equipment’! Thinking of you. x
Fluffy penguins to be photographed at the Pole and yet another pair of sunglasses – in case the other three pairs break !
xh
Henry, ‘In Shackleton’s Footsteps’ arrived today. Thank you so much for that and for your kind comments. I feel honoured to be associated in some very small way with the truly epic journey you are about to undertake. I will be with you every step of the way – in the comfort of my armchair. Best wishes – Peter.