How on earth did I end up here?

Day 18
Position: visit the map on www.beyondendurance.ie
Temperature: -32c with windchill

Its a long story, one I have had many hours so far to contemplate, mainly spent looking at the back of one of my team member sledges. Each one has a name, Pat's is the 'James Caird', this was the name of Shackletons biggest donator, he named each one of the 3 lifeboats of the Endurance after his main benefactors. Mine is the 'Stancomb Wills' but I actually call it 'Isabella' after my cousin, Clare's sledge is called 'Dudley Docker.' As there were only 3 lifeboats Shaun opted to name his 'Jack' after his 6 year old son.

The 3 life boats we instrumental in saving the men's lives, but before they were put to sea after the sinking of the Endurance they were hauled over the pack ice of the Weddell sea for hundreds of kilometers. The Stancomb Wills and Dudley Docker were used as shelters on Elephant Island and the James Caird was used to raise the alarm call, an incredible 800 mile journey to South Georgia, which safely transported Shackeltton and some of his men to effect the rescue. The 'James Caird' is now on display at Dulwich college in London.

Our sledges, each one containing everything we need to survive on this expedition, food, fuel, shelter, clothes etc. are our life-line, just like the lifeboats. The terrain over which we haul them is rather like a rough sea that has been instantly frozen, complete with 000's of white-horses and the occasional 4 ft swell. This is all we can see, everywhere we look, just a 1000 shades of white, oh how I long for some colour and a break in our monotony a church spire or a tree would be fine.

The surface of the ice is sometimes glassy smooth and the 'mohair skins' on the base of our skis can't get any grip, and we stumble and slip as the weight of our sleds don't allow us to move forward. Sometimes the surface is rough and grainy, causing so much friction, that it feels like towing a baby elephant through mud. Other times, the ice is just perfect and the sled slides without argument and I can hardly feel its presence ....these times though, are rare.

Hmmm not really answered the question as to why am I here, maybe next time...only 782km to go.....yippee!