Live Update from Antarctica December 01, 2015 at 12:42AM

Mr Meader ..., i dont have your email address doh!! Xxx

Live Update from Antarctica November 30, 2015 at 03:37PM

Yep thats right, although we arrived at Union Glacier and our sleds are now fully packed and ready to go, we are unable to fly to the start point due to a severe weather front. 40-50mph winds and horizontal snow has meant that the planes on site have had to be anchored by trucks. Although yesterday we went out for a 10km ski with the sleds to test everything out in the whiteout - today, even that is impossible. This of course is unusual for this time of year! This statement seems to be following me around this year! So, the latest update is that we should be able to fly out on Thursday! Fingers crossed.

Live Update from Antarctica November 26, 2015 at 09:43PM

A huge hello, live from Union Glacier in Antarctica. I arrived in 1st class style and settled into my 'pod'. We will be spending 2 days shaking out before flying again to the start point... I keep on pinching myself to make sure that I am not dreaming! Its cold without the clothing (so best I keep them on then!) but stunning views. I was right about the nerves and excitement... But just not the intensity. Anyway, time for bed (even though its strange to think that there will be daylight all night! Bye for now x

Could it really be time?

I have set up this post with the expectation that I may have to run out the door, having received 'the call' and expect that wifi will not be availiable. 

If that is the case, after a five day delay, we are off! Flying through the sky to the Union Glacier station - see brief video : https://vimeo.com/103828993 shake out for a couple of days before flying onto the edge (Hercules Inlet)- the start point. 

Although I am preempting this post - i know that nerves and excitement will be off the scale but also a relief that finally we are super close to the startline and the moment of knowing that its only about 700 miles between myself and the silver ball! (Nearly said that with a straight face!) 

I think that a caged bird would sum up the last few days. Although trips to the gym, walk around the local forest and visiting a ship (fascinating) were great (and i am so thankful that ALE who put on these trips - not being out there, relaxing and just eating and drinking is plain and simple alien .... 

I will be updating the blog as i go although limited to number of words and quality of pictures. However, its super exciting that I can be in contact throughout although I probably wont be focusing on the pain, sweat and cold .... That will be left for the story afterwards!

 

I am so pleased that i had that 'one last beer' last night.... Cause that meant that we fly today. 😀😀😀

Sorting out the nuts!

The last of the food was divded up and put into small bags, the massive tents were shaken out, poles were taped together and bug nets removed....

(This is the other team that are heading to the south pole on a different route) 

The space inside the Heliburg Keron 3GT is amazing and we have another 2G version too.

So, 😉 after the last of the boxing up all that was left was to weigh in and have the last?! night of good food and a beer.

Now of course A beer with a precursor of a healthy pisco sour and a tiny wee sprinkling of competition ..... Ended in a jossal with the coke ordering youngsters and the winning beer 😀 

.... At 3.30am..... 

.....Before up at 9.30am for a personal kit weigh-in and a cocktail briefing at the ALE HQ at 5pm! Sadly, we are now playing the waiting game for a window of good weather to fly out to Union Glacier in Antarctica.... We maybe sometime ..... 

Sorting food for 2 months

Today was spent sorting out technology links and the daily food bags. Each freeze dried meal (breakfast and dinner) needed to be opened and emptied into a thin plastic bag (as they are less weight and bulk) along with pro bars, chocolate and soup etc into the zip lock bags. 150 of them with a few extra 24 not packed so well. 

So, as this is a minimum of 2161 calories just in snacks and 2000 ish for meals, this is what we will be eating on a daily basis ( with some salami, cheese and crackers on the side if we get hungry).  

We still need to add nuts and dried fruit but that should keep the old body going (of course this doesnt include the additional snacks and high cal drinks that add even more calories). I just hope that I lose the 2.5 stone that I put on for this trip 😳

Shopping and shaking out ...

The best shopping in the world ;o)) 

Imagine heading into a supermarket ... With someone elses credit card and buying a shopping trolley of pringles, another of chocolate and another of tea and coffee! Magic! 

(This is Khai, team mate from USA) 

So this is the food/ supplies for the trip and all we need to do now is shake out, strip and repack. 

So that is what we did! 150 breakfasts divided into little bags, 150 dinners, 150 lunches, a few! Cheesy potatoes..... It... Was... Great... Fun!..... ............ Although it did confuse the dogs in the street!! ;o)) 

However the best bit will be tomorrow ....... 

Yes, that is chocolate, yes, it will have to be consumed ..yes, All of it 😀 

Passports are important .....

So, its great to know that I have set off to a flying start..... Well I say flying ... and that would be true, I did set off and did fly on a plane, different planes in fact, for many an hour. Flying so much that Immigration, in their tiny wee office in Santiago ... wanted to support me and put me on a plane right back to England. 

Apparently.... 

'we cant let you enter the country without a passport so you will have to return back to England' they said. 

Yep, it was just about at that point that the tiiiiiinnnnyyyy littl' snowballl started to gather great speed down the mountain..... 

But it was ok.... Well i say OK but that is relative and only after collecting my pj's etc  and ripped bags from the conveyer belt that appeard to be impersonating Zippy and George with a hangover, that things seem to settle again .... Well until i missed my sceduled flight/transfer of course and had minutes to get on the next flight! ...... Oh how I ran😀😀😀😳😀 .... 

Good start I think 😀

Its all about lasts.....

This week is all about lasts. Last weekend, last gym session on Monday, last night at the festival hall on Thursday, last pint, last delivery date, last delivery, last pack, last check.... Last last last! Gulp and of course, last goodbyes..... my weakness.

I refuse to have those conversations., way too serious... way too final... way too something! Sorry! But just know the final xxx or 😄 carries the delicate unspoken words, gratitude and love .... You know....

So with words left by my mother:

'Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today'

and my father...

'The time has come, the Walrus said to talk of many things.... Of shoes - and ships and sealing wax- of cabbages - and kings- and why the sea is boiling hot - and whether pigs have wings'  

(Through the looking glass by Lewis Carroll.)

Whilst armed with my library of tunes ..... with Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy as song no.1      http://youtu.be/2rd8VktT8xY

I .....guess ....its ....nearly time .....to ......edge closer...... to .....the ......Antarctica......

GIGGLING and RUNNING IN MY BEST FERLOMPING STYLEEEE EVER! Wooooooioooooohoooooooo 😀😀😀😀 its too exciting for words!!! 

Pythom.com

http://www.pythom.com/Meet-Carl-Alvey-and-South-Pole-team---Hercules-Inlet-route-2015-16-2015-11-05-10987

Westminster Abbey

A very special and moving morning with a fun pm with friends...... 

 

 

I was going to get some advice from Harry about the Pole ... But he was otherwise engaged....