N74.56.579 W96.27.203
7th April 2011
Jo - on the way to checkpoint 1
Had the worst night’s sleep, very cold, and\needed the loo in the night – we have given up on the shewee, and create an outside loo (just like the olden days!) each day when we camp; so was avoiding getting up!
Dreamt of hot baths & hot chips, obviously what I am craving most!
Had a really good day, skied about 14 miles; overtook the other team at lunch time, although, they have camped about 5 minutes past us tonight! We had a good run, due to great navigation by Lucy, and luck – we hit a motor way (Skido tracks) which went the same way as us for most of the day, which made the skiing a lot easier.
My skiing is definitely getting better, and I am swearing less at myself! My moisture & kit management is also improving. You need at least 2 pairs of gloves and two neck gaiters each day, as they freeze up, through the day, and become very uncomfortable.
The plane flew over with Danny & Steve, who have gone to set up check point one. It waggled its wings at us, as it went overhead. We have now completed 10% of the race, and should reach checkpoint one on Saturday – hurrah!
I spent most of today listening to an iPod that my lovely neighbour Richard put together, kept me going all day, but I was very surprised there was not more Elvis!
Tomorrow we should move up a latitude to N75; we have spent the last 3 days going along N74, to start our journey Northwards
Share
Tweet Facebook GooglePlusSponsors
4 Responses
Comment by Dawn Waldron
8 April, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Funnily enough, I could have done with a shewee myself this week but that’s another story. It’s obviously not as easy as it looks. Glad you’ve got your iPod to keep you companny. Here’s a poem for you too. I wonder if you remember it from our O levels?! Thinking of you and spurring you on…
London Snow
by Robert Bridges
When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town;
Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing;
Lazily and incessantly floating down and down:
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.
All night it fell, and when full inches seven
It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness,
The clouds blew off from a high and frosty heaven;
And all woke earlier for the unaccustomed brightness
Of the winter dawning, the strange unheavenly glare:
The eye marvelled – marvelled at the dazzling whiteness;
The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;
No sound of wheel rumbling nor of foot falling,
And the busy morning cries came thin and spare.
Then boys I heard, as they went to school, calling,
They gathered up the crystal manna to freeze
Their tongues with tasting, their hands with snowballing;
Or rioted in a drift, plunging up to the knees;
Or peering up from under the white-mossed wonder!’
‘O look at the trees!’ they cried, ‘O look at the trees!’
With lessened load a few carts creak and blunder,
Following along the white deserted way,
A country company long dispersed asunder:
When now already the sun, in pale display
Standing by Paul’s high dome, spread forth below
His sparkling beams, and awoke the stir of the day.
For now doors open, and war is waged with the snow;
And trains of sombre men, past tale of number,
Tread long brown paths, as toward their toil they go:
But even for them awhile no cares encumber
Their minds diverted; the daily word is unspoken,
The daily thoughts of labour and sorrow slumber
At the sight of the beauty that greets them, for the charm they have broken.
Comment by Carolyn Hardiman
8 April, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Jo, I have been reading your blog every day and you are an inspiration to us all.
Go girl, go!!
LOL Cx
Comment by Lindy Hacker
8 April, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Hi Jojo, sorry the sheepee isn’t going too well always thought sounded too complicated and a little bazaar anyway particularly when you had to sleep with it ….. I’m not quite up to Dawn’s standard but this won’t take so long to read. Hope tonight is better and you get more sleep. Mum and Dad coming tomorrow, hopefully getting Mum out for drive in trap with Thyme. Still not sure of the time difference, it’s now 10.50pm and I’m off to bed. Need to get up early enough to clean the loos for Mum!!!! Lots of love Jojo, thinking of you all the time. Big hugs and lots of hot water bottle thoughts. Lindy 🙂
Comment by Sarah
9 April, 2011 at 10:08 am
Richard is really pleased the “Must work harder!” playlist has come into good use : )
We are thinking of you everyday and I’m obsessed with checking for updates. Love you loads and yes you can do it – oh and the recent photo you look far too glam! xx