Safely home and mending

Arrived in the uk on the 24th March at about midday. Back at work on the 25th and eventually got home to Cornwall in the evening of Friday 25th. Sorted stuff out and slept a lot.
Sunday it was off to MOTI in Cardiff to give a talk on off-road running. Then Monday went to see the nurse at my doctor's surgery. She was please with how my leg is healing - it is still painful.

Tuesday drove to Southampton.

Note to self must spend more time at home and get to know that very attractive woman I meet there, I think she is called Mrs Chapman.

Leaving

Just about to leave Whitehorse for the trip back to the UK. It has been a great adventure. I have seen some great sights, experienced some highs and some lows, met some great people, been freezing cold and been warmed by touching human kindness.

The 6633ultra and the Arctic are incredibly tough but at the same time beautiful and deeply rewarding.

Thank you Martin, Sue and Likeys for a great event. Thank you also to the crew and competitors for a great time.

Totally in awe of Chris Todd

Chris finished the 350 mile 6633ultra in 7 1/2 days, he was the only competitor to finish. Most people will have no idea of what he has achieved. I know that in the Arctic at 40 below every step is a struggle and that you can never relax or ease off. What Chris achieved is truely exceptional. That he did it with extremely good humour throughout is incredible. He is a very nice bloke and in my opinion a God. I am honoured to have met him and to have been in the same event as him.

Chris - well done.

Been to hospital to get frostbite treated. Now a bit more comfortable. Unfortunately Phillip had to withdraw after 130 miles. Great effort.

A little disappointment

Feeling pretty low at the moment. I have been pulled out of the event with frostbite. I have had some fantastic experiences including seeing the Northern Lights and experiencing 40 below. Very high winds added to the cold as I was going over Wrights Pass, everything froze up including my nose, under my eyes and part of my leg. I am not a pretty sight so nothing unusual there. Off to get some sleep.

Phillip is still going strong.

Will post again when I next get computer access.

Off to Dawson

All packed and ready for the drive to Dawson. Just bought the last few bits - strangely the Doc advises sunblock so had to get that. Apparrently if you have any skin exposed you either get frostbite or sunburn.

I just checked the weather forcast for the start, high of minus 31C low about minus 40C. With 40km per hour wind. So not too bad.

Might not be able to post over next few days.

Great practice session

We had a practice session on a frozen lake today. This was a chance to try out getting our gear out of the sled and setting up the sleeping bag and bivvi bag to sleep out on the ice. it was also a chance to try cooking etc in real conditions. Unfortunately the weather was against us it was too warm. The temperature was about minus 10C so it was not a very severe test, it was still flipping cold. On the way back, as night fell, the temperature did drop to about minus 15C but with all the kit on it felt quite warm.

Tomorrow we load the sleds up on the truck and start the trip to Dawson. I am now starting to get fed up with all the hanging around, I just want to get started. I am looking forward to the trip to Dawson (about a five hour drive) we should see some great scenery.

Just about ready

I have now sorted out all the food, organised drop bag contents and worked out what I am going to put where.

The official kit check is at 2.00pm today. Then there is a practice session at 6.00 pm. Apparrently we are heading out onto a frozen lake to practice bivving out under the watchful eye of the race director.

Just off to test out the cold again and buy one or two bits and pieces for the journey to Dawson tomorrow.

Sled arrived

The sled arrived on the afternoon plane which was a relief. Busy now sorting all the stuff out and arranging things in different bags, repacking it all, unpacking it again just to check, packing it again then repeating the whole process.

Took a short break for a walk around town - again still very cold. Had a Grizzly beer at lunchtime, brewed in the Yukon. Waitress said it is normally warmer at this time of year in Whitehorse, normally about minus 17C. They are tough people here.

In Whitehorse

Yep actually made it to Whitehorse, Yukon. Sled still in Vancouver but hopefully arriving today.

Snow everywhere. Very cold minus 25C. Went out for a short walk to the suprermarket. Flipping cold.

Met up with Chris, Keith and Kevin so Phillip and I have now met all the other competitors in the 350 mile race except Andrew North.

Others are waiting to use internet so that is it for now.

All the packing is done!

I have managed to get all the kit and food packed, I don't think I have forgotten anything and both bags are just under the weight allowance. I had a few last practices of getting into the sleeping bag - boy is that a struggle and that was in the comfort of my sitting room. I dread to think what it will be like in a howling gale in the freezing cold. Getting the bag back in its sack was a game. Those of you old enough to remember the Generation Game would not have seen anything as funny or pathetic as me trying to get that puffed-up sleeping bag back into its far to small sack.

Up at 4.00 am to get to Heathrow for my flight to Canada so no blog for a few days. Might be able to get a couple of entries while I am in Whitehorse before the race. When the race starts there will be no reports here. You might get something on http://www.minus2plus40.com/ but if there is nothing there do not worry, it just means no internet access and the guys with the sat phones are too busy defrosting people or digging their vehicles out of snow drifts.

When I get back I am sure I will have lots to say. Once again thanks to all the people that have helped so far (see panel on right) and a huge thank you goes to Likeys (http://www.likeys.com/) for lots of advice and supplying lots of gear (some of it at a huge discount). If you want stuff for a desert race, an arctic race or something in between Likeys are the people to get it from.

Doing something I do well

I spent most of today doing something I do well; making a mess.

First off I got everything I would be taking to the Artcic and spread it out all over the sitting-room. It looked like a jumble-sale after it had been hit by a tornado. However, it gradually all came to order as I sorted things into various piles. Stuff for the start line, sled contents, drop bag 1, drop bag 2, finish bag and the final pile: Where do these go?

After that it was off to the kitchen to bag up the required quanities of food. My mess making in the kitchen is legendary. My children still remember with awe the great Ketchup tidal wave of 2007 and the Mayonnaise avalanche in 2008.

Weetabix have very kindly supplied us with lots of goodies. Ready brek (original, chocolate and honey) for breakfasts and Weetabix Minis (Fruit & Nut Crisp, Honey & Nut Crisp and Chocolate Crisp) which are great for snacking on.

I didn't make too much mess with the Weetabix Minis, but measuring out Ready brek meant that soon the kitchen surfaces, the floor and the dogs were covered in a fine dust. Unfortunately it had been raining and the dogs were wet. I will leave the rest to your imagination.

Fortunately 'she who puts up with me', Goddess Vanessa, was out getting one or two bits I had forgotten so most of the mess was sort of cleared up (well smeared up) by the time she got back.

I think she looks forward to my trips away.

Not a lot happening

Not a lot has happened over the last few days. I have been working to ensure that I earn some money in March. One of the disadvantages of being self-employed is that you do not get paid holidays.



I now have two days to sort out the last few bits and pieces, clear up stuff that cannot wait until I get back, pay bills, pack, do a bit more work, send out emails and lots more stuff.


Today I just want to say thanks to one or two of the companies that are supported Ed & Phil on this great adventure.




EDZ Clothing have supplied us with lots of layered clothing. Base layers, mid-layers, neck warmers, balaclavas, gloves and windproofs.

Wigwam Mills have supplied loads of socks, which is a very good thing as we will be wearing several, if not three pairs, at a time. Wicking liner socks, 40 degree below socks and some lovely soft and warm merino wool socks as well as balaclavas and hats.

We tried out our sleds again today along the country lanes of Herefordshire. It was a sunny and relativly warm day; not what you want when practising for the Arctic. It did mean that a lot of people were out walking or in their gardens. Most asked us what we were training for, but some tried to pretend we did not exist. I think that maybe they thought we were crazy.

Our eating strategy includes munching on seeds as we go along. These are a great source of energy, being high in fat (the good sort) they contain about 600 calories in a 100 grams. We have been very fortunate to have been supplied these by Munchy Seeds. Check out their website for some great graphics. http://www.munchyseeds.co.uk/. My only concern was being able to get into the packets (my views on stuggling to get into packaging are legendary). Well, you can get into their packets very easily even wearing two pairs of gloves. Well done Munchy Seeds.

The seeds taste great and come in a couple of flavours - I love the chilli ones.