![\"\"id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458934771011309954\"](\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_6GP-Stf_MTE\/S8IIQGYoUYI\/AAAAAAAAATg\/f5imX4h4_so\/s1600\/the+sled+as+bridge+(Small).jpg\")
<\/a>The sled as a bridge<\/p>\n
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Polar bear safety<\/p>\n
Day 8 on the ice – Mother nature is a tease…..<\/p>\n
We woke up – and the first thing out of my mouth, even before the eye blinds were removed, before I thought of my morning coffee – was ‘positive or negative’ – this directed at Keith my tentmate – re drift – in fact we had drifted 1 mile towards the North Pole! Excitement was palpable. We got organized and broke camp, (much oatmeal eaten this morning), and started off.<\/p>\n
The wind picked up and the snow started. As we marched along -Mother Nature showed her true colours…..and there was water everywhere – we lost count of the leads – everywhere we looked. It was an incredible challenge. Keith went in (twice – but he is OK Stacey). We had to use the sledge as a bridge on many occasions. I managed again to put in my left foot (but just my foot). Between Keith and Dirk there is > 1500 miles of Polar experience – we have felt safe, secure and looked after the whole time.<\/p>\n
The ice age ranges from days (one of the leads we crossed), to about 3 years old. But overall the ice extent has been steadily diminishing in size, thought to be due to global warming. Some predict in 5 years there will be summer time free ice, i.e. there will be no structure and ships will be able to pass through the northwest passage in summer. . Thankfully we have not met any animals – as we don’t want to see any Polar Bears.<\/p>\n
Overall we travelled 9.5 nautical miles today (so our grand total is 69.3 nautical miles) so now we are…….at 89.34.0 (i.e. for every 2 miles we work we have gained 1 mile towards the pole..) and still 26 miles away…<\/p>\n
Mother nature indeed is a cruel mistress….<\/p>\n
We set camp and the high point of the evening was Tomato soup with shredded Parmesan cheese – yummy. Two tents – Dale, Michel and Dirk in one; Keith and myself in the other (we are the cook tent and entertainment tent). Tonight we are back to Beef Stew. We burn about 6000-8000 calories per day, between the temperature and exertion – it is hard (but fun) to keep up.<\/p>\n
Hoping for much drift tonight.<\/p>\n
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The sled as a bridge<\/p>\n<\/a>
Polar bear safety<\/p>\n