Day 3
Day 3
Lat S80deg 20.254’
Long W80deg 36.344’
Altitude 753m
Daily
distance 12.7nm
Windy start so put a jacket on today! Yesterday’s
exertion warranted a base layer and mid layer only but as today flattened out, a
base layer and jacket did the job. Added another hour today and that along with
the flatter terrain helped increase my daily total. The distances I’m reporting
have to be in nautical miles so multiply by 1.15 and you get statute miles like
we use every day. This makes for 14.6 ‘normal’ miles so pretty pleased
especially as I’m at almost full weight.
By noon the wind decreased
significantly and I could make out a black dot on the horizon. Obviously another
expedition but which one? As I got closer I thought I could see two people but
only one pulk, but if they’re in file then that’d be right, or was it a shadow?
There aren’t any pairs out here so must be Ryan Waters group of three. But they
were way behind, how could they have shot past? Must be one person so got to be
Wendy. She went on for longer so I’ve caught her up I thought. Definitely Wendy
as I crossed single ski tracks. After a few hours of drawing level and getting
close enough I realised it was neither! Jenny Davis, another solo going for the
female speed record had passed me after I camped but now I’d caught back up with
her. Spent the next three hours skiing alongside as two ‘solos’ before I camped
and she carried on. She was out here last year in horrific conditions but
unfortunately had her trip cut short with illness so gas come back for
unfinished business.
My very last visual to navigate by was in my view most
of today. The Three Sails are small mountains side by side that stick up over
the horizon and can be seen many miles away. They looked more like three clouds
to me but I didn’t get to name them.
Tomorrow I turn slightly west and head
for the 80 degree line of longitude for 20 miles before turning south and almost
a straight line for the pole.
Weather report is for a strong wind gusting at
50 knots tomorrow night so going for an early start so I can set up camp and
batten down the hatches for the night. Going to be
interesting!!
#diabetesuk #curraNZ #expeditionfoods #primalpantry
#antarctica #solo
#antarcticlogisticsandexpeditions #southpole
