This is getting really tough - Day 37

This is now the test, 8 days to go to reach our food cache and we have 8 days of food and fuel left. The weather has been so bad we are behind our plan a bit. Another storm or too much fresh snow and we'll coast in on fumes. Once at the cache though we'll have 13 days more food and it should only be a maximum 10 days to reach the Pole - adrenaline will get us there even if our bodies and equipment have failed us.

Our equipment is vital to our survival, every piece is here is for a reason, and non essential weight has been shaved off every item to help us. I've lost most of my taste buds, so that has even saved some weight! Our gear is starting to take a battering; tents are ripped, the zip on my jacket only goes up half way when it is -15c or colder, my salopettes have a 2 inch hole in the zip on the right knee, Shaun's mattress has a slow puncture, he has to wake up in the middle of the night to reinflate it. My gloves have been sewn up so many times they look like Steptoe's.

Whilst showing signs of strain, the equipment will last the final 18 days or so, however will we? We are starting to look like skeletons. Clare and Shaun look exhausted, Clare at only 50kgs in weight, has been hauling over twice her body weight now for nearly 40 days, I don't know how she does it - she is incredibly strong. Pat and Shaun have lost so much weight, I'm thinking of setting up the South Pole Diet club, Pat has lost over 1.5 stone, and Shaun and I have lost at least a stone each. Our clothes just hang off us and look as though we have borrowed them. Incredibly we have been eating over 5000kcals per day and now our skin is pulled taught over our faces and is translucent on our arms.

This massive weight loss means we are all fatigued and are needing more and more rest each day. Our bodies are starting to ache aswell. Pat amazingly has recovered from his frost bitten thumb, the end was all black a few weeks ago, and now it is bright pink and new skin has formed, we all thought he would certainly loose the end of it. Also his sloughed foot soles, from massive blistering have healed and the soles of his feet are now reconnected to the 'uppers.' his thoroughbred, and 60+ expedition experience is shining through, as he is now faring the best of all of us.

Shaun and I both have acute Achilles tendonitis of the left foot. It hits me towards the end of each march, like I have a drawing pin stuck under my heel, it is agony and we both have to stop at regular intervals to stretch. As you can imagine, there aren't too many orthotic specialists out here so we have diagnosed and treated the problem ourselves, we have to raise the heel off the ski to prevent over stretching of the tendon. We have achieved this by inserting and stacking the lids off Shaun's 'Snus' tins. Shaun used to be a smoker but nowadays gets his nicotine fix from miniature teabags filled with tobacco that he puts under his lip several times a day, a Scandinavian invention. Anyway the 'Snus' comes in plastic pots and the lids, when inserted under the insole can raise the heel by an inch or so - quite effective. I also rub Arnica oil into the heel at night before bed, this is some natural remedy from dried petunia leaves or something, made by the Druids! Will keep you posted on its effectiveness. I would rub penguin poo on my foot if it would stop the pain, its pretty demoralizing when every step hurts so much.

We just need to nurse ourselves the next 8 days to the food cache, then I'm sure we can soldier the last 10 days to the Pole. Maybe this is what Beyond Endurance means. I console myself with the thought that, with the terrible conditions we have had over the last 12 days and in all likelihood will be around for another week or so, at least our victory will not be hollow - anyone that thinks this Polar exploration gig is easy is a fool......that means you, Jon!