As we have mentioned on a couple of posts now, Tark’s has been suffering from an allergic reaction from what we believe to be a combination of the chemicals in the water and the detergent used at South Camp. Well on Saturday he reached the point of near insanity, he was literally on fire! There was no way he could head back out on the ice the way he was, so after consultation with the team it was conclude that a short dose of powerful steroids was needed and if that didn’t work he was going to be on his way home to England to get some long term treatment. The next dilemma was getting hold of the steroids, as the closest doctor able to subscribe the drugs, was 2 flights away in Iqualuit. With the added bonus of the first available fight being on Thursday. Thankfully by the afternoon, lovely Mary the nurse in Resolute, had found a doctor in Ottawa who would carry out a consultation via a Skype video conference and allow the Steroids needed (technology saves the day)! Within 24 hours Tark’s was a new man, and was given the all clear to go back on the ice. We were also informed that our last test results from the kerosene heater saga, showed that the smoke inhalation all 3 of endured left our lungs looking like us mild to heavy smokers! Although we have been assured that all will be back to normal in about 8 weeks.

Well there is only 1 twin otter in service currently at Resolute and so we are in a queue behind the re-supply for the ice team and the Polar Continental Ice Shelf. Due to bad weather the ice teams re-supply has been put back two days already which mean we are not going to get on the ice until Wednesday or possibly Thursday at the earliest! let me out, let me out!!!

Firstly, just to clarify to those Tarka managed to confuse in the last post, any short video clips uploaded onto the web whilst we are away are taken using my small cheap compact photo camera on video mode, hence the poor quality sound and low resolution! I will however, take full responsibility for reducing the sound quality even further by constantly turning away from camera whilst speaking. I had completely forgotten that we don’t have the luxury of radio mic’s (fluffy mic that clips to your shirt collar) out here, wont happen again! Our Sony A1 HDV video camera will be recording the next 3 months but I am afraid you will not be able to see any of this until our return.

Freight has now finally arrived, well some of it, so we are at last back up to full steam ahead in the art of list making, sorting, re-packing, sewing on sponsor badges, dividing daily food rations…etc etc. In saying that, i was actually in bed with flu the day all the kit arrived and missed out on the process of lugging a couple of tonnes of kit back from the airport late at night in miserably cold conditions. Now I am sure some of you cynics out there would probably think i had planned it that way! I however, am just incredibly grateful that i was able to feel like death whilst in the warmth of a hotel bed next to an on-suite bathroom and NOT on the ice at -50ºC.

With only a few days to go before we get flown out onto the ice I should probably be telling you about all things Arctic. However I’m sure you’ll be hearing about enough Arctic and cold weather related stories over the next few months to fill a lifetime so instead I will tell you about South Camp! South Camp Inn is the name of the place we are staying at right now. Not only does it consist of the most eclectic amalgamation of décor and styles but it also happens to be run by a fantastically colourful team. The whole place is run and owned by Ozzie, an entrepreneurial business man from Tanzania of all places. Quite how a Tanzanian business man ended up right up here in the high Arctic is anybodies guess, but he has done, and very successfully at that. Over the years passing expeditions to the North pole have left kit here and Ozzie has accumulated a veritable Aladdin’s cave of goodies. No matter what you might need you can guaranty that it will be hidden in the back of one of the rooms. The other long standing member of South Camp is Randy… an accomplished chef from Bermuda!!! I wont even begin to try and explain how he ended up here but the long and the short is that I am very grateful he has as i have now found his muffins are equally exquisite as his chocolate brownies . There is also a fantastic amount of space, so we have been able to spread all our kit out and organise it into the various drop-offs and categories that we will need on the ice. For all its diversity and good points I heed a word of caution to all who will venture up here in years to come… BEWARE OF THE STATIC! It is quite unbelievable but a combination of aggravating factors has made this building a living Van de Graaff generator! On average you can take about 10 to 15 steps before you have generated enough static to give yourself a shock. We are not 100% sure on whether the building is earthed and to add a little spice and variety to your day all the metallic objects are covered in a tiny coating of paint, enough to disguise it so that you unsuspectingly brush past it, but an insufficient amount to insulate it. A few days ago I managed to walk almost the whole length of South Camp without coming into contact with any metal and when I reached for Ian’s door handle the shock was so intense it felt like the spark from my finger momentarily lit up the dark corridor. I have now taken to running my hand down the walls and deliberately touching as many door handles as possible as I travel around camp to avoid any significant build up.