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Dispatches: Pan-tastic! - Tuesday, 27th April 2004


Day's Statistics

Expedition & Environmental Statistics:
Position:87.23.2N 94.21.8E (view route map)
Daily distance:14.8 nm
Total distance:331 nm
Distance to go:576.4 nm
Travelling time:10:30hs
Temperature:-17°C
Conditions:Slight wind from N NE. Ice pans & old rubble. Overcast to start with then clear
view large image
view large image

Bad news first: 1) the fabulous bit of drift north I experienced yesterday has fizzled out and once again I'm drifting south. 2) I was skiing so hard today that I only took one photograph - this rather odd shaped lead. I meant to take an air guitar self-portrait, but that'll have to wait...

The good news? The ice was the best yet - not perfect by any means, but I had some gorgeous 'multi-year' pans today (flat areas of ice that have been around for a few years & have nice smooth surfaces). Not a drop of open water either, although I crossed a huge recently frozen lead late in the day. It was a near-whiteout this morning but the sun came out in the afternoon and I ended the day skiing in sunglasses. Apparently it was around -17 degrees c. which I'd say is perfect - not too hot, not too cold.

Despite the fact that I was drifting backwards, I covered over 14 nautical miles (26km) which is fairly respectable, even if I do say so myself!

Today's dedication is to David & Rochelle - congratulations on tying the knot. Sounds like you've found a good location for the next PTC as well...

Visitor Comments


# Hairy moments

Can understand how those ridges and leads must have been driving you potty before the pans appeared. At last, on the flat people are happy people.

THought of you lots from my hammock by the Sea of Cortez and now from a rather soggy London. How long your beard must be by now. On my Snickers SP jape, I used to look at the hair on my legs and wander if they could grow any longer. Enough, our missives are supposed to keep YOU entertained, but it would seem that your sparkling disptaches are holding a better public rating than Big Brother over here. Just publish them wihout any tweaks and you've got a sella there ma boi.

So keep us going over here, it can be jolly hard work,stresseful and depressing, your epistolary masterpieces are the best rations for soul food. Don't forget us, it can be lonely in the crowds....

God speed
Rbud

By Rosebud Stancer on Wednesday, 28 April - 05:37 pm -0700


# Air Guitar

Hi, Ben
Anticipation, for the first-shot ever of an air guitar, from the Arctic! Dude, that would be way far out, Ben's solo session directly from the North Pole. Motor on...
Best,
-Scot

By Scot Morrison on Wednesday, 28 April - 05:32 am -0700


# You da man

Best of luck to you on your treck. I learned about your jouney from Kim Kommandos newletter.

By Rodney Brook on Wednesday, 28 April - 01:39 am -0700


# Good going.

Glad to read you had a most excellent day, given how it had started; I believe you mentioned white-out conditions. Hope you have more 'old ice' ahead. It's all downhill from the pole!

By George Fudge on Tuesday, 27 April - 10:25 pm -0700


# Fantastic

Well Done, great pictures, yes we all need to see you playing air guitar.

Love Jane & the Yorkshire family

By Jane Pike on Tuesday, 27 April - 10:10 pm -0700


# You show RESPECT

Ben:
Mother nature demands respect and you seem to show RESPECT naturally, intuitively. The intimate relationship you have with her, has helped to shape the Ben we have come to know. Your problem-solving, your patience, your tender concerns for her are lessons we learn each day as we are allowed to experience this expedition with you, Ben.

The Arctic Mother has had and will have many more challenges (and lessons) for you but, be assured we cheer you on at every toss and turn!

Now, we encourage you and altogether we send you strong thoughts of many pans with the gentle wind at your back.
Cissy,
Texas

By Cissy on Tuesday, 27 April - 09:10 pm -0700


# small world!!!!

my daddy was telling a colleague at his fire station how wonderful the internet is, and mentioned your website. it turns out that he knows you. Gary Hillier from Staple street, Hernehill works with my dad. He wishes you all the best and good luck.
Eleanor Clarke age 7

By Eleanor Clarke on Tuesday, 27 April - 08:25 pm -0700


# North Pole

I am reading on thepoles.com that Camp Borneo is staying open until May 5th. Does Ben intend to carry on with his adventure after this date or will it be too dangerous? If he had a accident how would he get rescued up from the ice if the Borneo Camp is closed? How many days food did Ben have given at the resupply? Enough to get to Canada or just the Pole? Please answer these questions. All the people of Norway wants to know Ben's plans!
Sjur, Oslo

By Sjur on Tuesday, 27 April - 06:39 pm -0700


# Yippeee!

Way to go! i admire your bravery. i have been following your posts and certainly, as everyone else, have been enjoying the trip along with you! thanks for taking the time updating us and keeping in touch!

By Deb on Tuesday, 27 April - 06:32 pm -0700


# Well, bravo!

Finally, a good day. Good for you! We who regularly follow you on your journey feel your disappointment when it's a tough day, and your elation when it's a good one. It's so nice to see a photo that looks calm, as opposed to the ones with all the rubble or an endless expanse of water.

Good distance today - I get excited everytime I look at the route map and see that the beacon has moved closer to the pole. How great it's going to be when you reach it! I can barely contain my excitement just thinking about it. We'll have to have a party on the message board!

I hope tomorrow goes just as well for you as today has. Press on!

By Gwen on Tuesday, 27 April - 05:50 pm -0700


# Good going!

Awesome! 14 miles is huge, especially with a full sled following your re-supply. By the way, how many days food did you take at the re-supply? Is there any chance of a second re-supply between now and reaching Canada or is it now "do or die"?

By Jon on Tuesday, 27 April - 05:49 pm -0700


# Good things come to those that wait...

Patiently! You have waited long enough for wonderful pans such as those described. You have earned every NM you covered today and I am sending you -15 degrees C temperatures, no white outs, and wonderful pans until the end of your journey! You are doing a great job ~ even though you forgot to mention Valeria....I am sure she is still rooting for you, just like we are! Can't wait to read your next uplifitng dispatch~look forward to them daily. Keep up the fast pace and hope you saved those undies for auction (along with your socks....could be the makings of a good fundraiser for your next expedition)!

By Michelle from Va. Beach, VA on Tuesday, 27 April - 05:10 pm -0700

Dispatches Archive


The following dispatches are an archive spanning the 4-5 months that Ben spent prior to the expedition, the expedition itself, and the returning home period.


Well...

Well... - Sunday, 25th April 2004

...I'm still here! I didn't get much sleep last night - the helicopter landed at 0130 my time and stayed for nearly an hour. It definitely rated as one of the most surreal moments of my life and it filled me with a mixture of emotions. Wave Vidmar ...read more

'Miracles will happen...'

'Miracles will happen...' - Monday, 26th April 2004

'...as we drift'. Rather apt lyrics from my Song of the Day, a sublime acoustic version of Seal's Crazy. The sun was making my tent so warm last night that I fell asleep with my hat off and my sleeping bag unzipped, but something unexpected woke ...read more

Pan-tastic!

Pan-tastic! - Tuesday, 27th April 2004

Bad news first: 1) the fabulous bit of drift north I experienced yesterday has fizzled out and once again I'm drifting south. 2) I was skiing so hard today that I only took one photograph - this rather odd shaped lead. I meant to take an air guitar ...

So, what's the plan?

So, what's the plan? - Wednesday, 28th April 2004

As some of you know, 'Borneo', the temporary Russian airstrip near the Pole is closing soon. The last helicopter leaves the ice on the 5th of May. Does this mean I'll be stranded? Can I reach the Pole? Can I reach Canada? No, yes and no. If/when ...read more

L'Enfer du Nord

L'Enfer du Nord - Thursday, 29th April 2004

'L'Enfer du Nord' - 'the Hell of the North' is the nickname for perhaps the world's toughest one day bike race - the infamous Paris-Roubaix. Part of the reason I'm telling you this is that a British rider, Roger Hammond came third this year - the ...read more

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“You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” - Ray Bradbury