Good to go....

I have to say.... I never want to go through the last weekend again. With the £plummeting against the $, a suprise outcome of the Brexit and markets going haywire; suddenly the reality hit, that my dream of going solo to the pole was in serious jeopardy. 

News of no plan, no direction, no pound, no stability but lashings of lies and deceit but all in the name of regaining control meant that even though it cost me dearly, I wasn't prepared to 'see what happens' over the coming weeks/months. Of course it must be remembered that there has been a lot invested already from equipment, training and focus.

So, by 6pm on Friday 1st July, I received the news that the full funds had arrived in the USA.... It's happening ... No turning back now ..... In November 2016 I will be standing alone on the start line at the Hercules Inlet ready to start the 1400 mile (2253km) ski to the South Pole and back. I can't wait.

The journey will be in two parts. The first is the race route from Hercules to the South Pole where only 4 solo women have gone before. This will be unsupported and unassisted. 

At the South Pole, I will pick up a food resupply and return back to the Hercules Inlet - another 700 miles. This distance has not been completed by any solo female. 

The environment will be very harsh with November being notorious for bad weather as it emerges from the dark winter months. High wind, low temps will add to this journey that by distance and going solo - it's already high stakes. 

There is still a lot to be done. So, best I keep going ..... 

Talk at the the Royal Geographical Society

First time at the Royal Geographical Society and boy was it a good'n.

The evening was filled with heroic people sharing their story but also the hard nose reality of the potential cost to life on these    expeditions.

Death/die/ dead/ died..... Key words that were repeated throughout the evening but was the common thread through the last talk.... I guess it was their way of bringing the room back down to the ground and giving the young hopefuls a sense of responsibility and reality.

Yes, i have visited this area several times and will continue to do so. Minimising risks and variables has been a feature ... and my way of doing this is by reestablishing and stripping things back to the core purpose. 

However in many ways, I am lucky, I have no dependants or job so it makes the rest of the thinking easier.... 

What a very interesting evening 😀

A lovely evening at the Theatre Royal

What a treat! Original composers conducting philamonic orchestra in honour of the Queens 90th. A stunning performance throughout.

Something that everyone should attend .... Looking forward to more celebrations next week in Chelsea... 

40miles /64km in aid of cystic fibrosis

Such a great day. Team Yomping Yeoman - we made it to the finish line. Great to meet up with old faces and its at times like these I become quite scared that life has zoomed by. Where has the last 20 years gone? 

The event was faultless, filled with wonderful volunteers and for the first time ever, Dave and Chris (support) very kindly met us at the check points and laid out chairs, food, water and smiling faces (and a knock on the door!!). Clearly i am getting uber soft these days - so it must be time to head out to the trail with a bivvi bag for a few days. 

Yesterday was also filled with admiration for the three youngsters that walked as part of the team (and also the other very young children who were part of other teams). These guys and gals dispelled the notion that all of the young population/youth of today are just sitting at home playing on the playstation. Yesterday, hand in hand with parents and famillies, these guys proved that 40 miles is possible, achieveable and just needed the encouragment and support of their family and friends. Really super - well done guys and gals (and parents). 

Message

*(Today I recieved a message on my blog from a Guy Davies - and I am hoping that you will leave your contact details so that I can get in touch. *)

Often I am asked 'what do I think about when I am on trail?' Or 

'what will i think about when I spend many weeks on my own at the South Pole?' And its often something about nothing if anything at all for periods of time.   

Nonetheless one example of something that I will think about are things that I see, read or hear: such as: 

'It looks like you've reached the end..'

 along with many other questions, that I hold and take with me on journeys to ponder... Should I wish to think of something. 

Thoughts consider what is 'the end?', could there ever be an end? Is 'the end' a mind set, belief or humans trying to draw a line for their own gain? For some it means death or final stop.... finishing or completing.... but even then, is that really the end? How can that be so? 

For example, i completed LeJog ... But its only part way through the big journey and training and something that will guide my thinking and understanding (and probably actions). On the surface, it looks like I have cycled and hiked from one end of the country to the other. That is true.... but there is just so much more than that I have actually learnt along the way : the state of the roads, how my body reacts, fuel consumption, peoples views, how hungry our cows are, peoples stories and how kind the folk beit shephards, hikers, retired folk, shop owners, trail angels, bird watchers (to name but a few) are across the lands, and I mean pure genuine kindness that is speared by the moment rather than goal or money orientated. 

Its certainly a journey ... And one that I am so thankful for.