Cape Town and Beyond!

Today was the first day and I'am totally worn out. We left Heathrow last night at 7:20PM and we arrived in South Africa at 9:30AM Local time. I spent most of the flight watching movies including "500 days of Summer" and the outstanding "UP", I then watched "Moon" and "Land of the Lost" (which was surprisingly good) and had lots of parallels between the movie and the adventure we were all embarking on.

The day was full, mostly with things like .... waiting,making expensive mobile phone calls, checking in, getting Swine Flu injections, eating , getting to know each other, sight seeing and drinking beer.

It was a great day, problem is tomorrow the flights for Thursday have been brought forward to Wednesday and therefore we will flying to Antarctica tomorrow night! :-(

Anyhow i need to go get my sleep, tomorrows ging to be be an even longer day, so i need to go get some rest.

Good Night.

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On my way!

So this is it, after months of nervous anticipation, A week of packing and two days of emotional farewells my journey has begun.

Already things are going wrong, last Friday my flight to Capetown was with South African airways, however the flight is actually with British Airways. It was changed mid week, not a big deal but I ended up going to Terminal 2 not 5. Good job I am not in a rush !

On a positive I did get to ride on Heathrow express and take this rather groovy photo with my iPhone :-)

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ptest.amr

  
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Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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The leaving of Matlock

Well that's it, all done at the office. I have now managed to complete all my preparation work for Antarctica. I now have 4 days to get myself in order before I leave.

So pleased to be away from Matlock. Its a place that has sapped all my energy,so I am off back to Liverpool to recharge. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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Amazon Delivers

Yes... with the country in the grip of a postal strike Amazon is still coming up trumps with next day delivery of my Garmin 405.

Now I can track my running whilst in Antarctica and preload a marathon training plan onto the watch. This is all good stuff and definately going to make my trip a lot more fun.

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Signposts

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Testing my phone as a videoblogging device :-) Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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Parallels

"The noise resembles the roar of heavy, distant surf. Standing on the stirring ice one can imagine it is disturbed by the breathing and tossing of a mighty giant below." Ernest Shackleton

Thanks to my pal Michael Kramer who sent me this quote via Facebook. I love  the poetic way that the explorers of old would described there endeavours. One of the things I am really looking forward to is getting access to the Polar Library on base. My plan will be to as best as I can find a quote or passage that matches my own situation at any given moment as the season unfolds. Not that I will find many quotes on Garmin watches and iPods but I am sure I will find pleanty with regards to Navigation and how the likes of Shackleton and Scott kept the mind occupied. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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