Sebastian radio’d in this morning at 5 am (we changed the clocks an
> hour forward today – so it was actually 4 AM!!) from the middle of
> the arctic desert.
>
> I had the feeling that he’s finding it mentally hard : pulling those
> heavy sleds over large hillocks of ice – up and down, with the same
> landscape stretching out to the end of the horizon. And he’s only on
> Day 4! But he managed to radio into his mother to reassure her!
> Although I don’t know if I’m as reassurd as all that, as now I’m
> worrying about him becoming depressed! He said that the monotony is
> the worst. I’s a real work-in-progress to work on one’s mind so as
> not to dwell on the minute-to-minute discomfort, effort and
> especially the freezing cold. Mealtimes must be the highlight of
> the day! I don’t expect he’ll have a birthday cake on April 3rd!
>
> As he’s coming back through Paris, I told him that he would have a
> hot bath waiting for him, a comfortable bed and his favorite mutton
> stew!
>
> I told him that he didn’t HAVE to do this and if it got too tough
> that no-one would blame him for quitting, but he said he couldn’t
> quit as he would let so many people down – including his sponsors – but
> mostly himself.
> Oh well, he’s a big boy, but I wonder if he was quite able to
> anticipate the grueling day-to-day ritual. I think he’s being
> incredibly brave, myself, and I hope he will be recognized as doing
> this as a mission to help save the Arctic, which is not protected as
> the Antarctic is. The Arctic is so much more at risk, as it is
> surrounded by countries which, in fact, would probably prefer that
> the ice melt as it would create a passage in which all kinds of
> boats will be able to go through, creating all the problems that are
> evident such as non-stop tour liners, tankers, cargo boats etc.,
> going from the US. Russia, Canada and the Baltic countries, creating
> chaos and destruction to the natural habitat, churning up the
> pristine waters, creating oil spills etc. etc. and the prospection
> of earning billions and billions in mining for oil….
>
> He’s hoping people are following his daily diary – he especially
> mentioned his nephews – and I reassured him that everyone probably
> was because I have been bugging the entire Earth about him! He was
> especially gratified that Pat Murphy’s son’s class was making his
> trip a class project, so please Pat, let him know—
>
> Over and out, to quote the end of my conversation with him…..
>
> – penelope