# Christian , January 28th 2014

Tarka, Ben,
you are absolutely right, for me it is hard to imagine how it should be to walk day by day without any changes of the landscape in a whiteout. I am wondering if you dream from each other or lets say from the view of the one who is in the lead as the one who is following? Ben, Tarka 9 days left this is brfilliant you are eating the miles and it seems so easy but it isn’t, we know. Keep your day dreams of food, shower, coffee but the most important keep your humour and laugh, let Antarctica know that you are on the way to make it! The dreams will push you forward.
Stay focused, stay strong, keep laughing. Best regards from snowy Berlin.

# Rebecca, January 28th 2014

We’re here. We’re with you as much as we can be from this distance, willing you on. Even without being able to fully appreciate what you’re going through, we’re amazed, impressed and in awe of how far you’ve come. Rest and food and friendship are all waiting for you…soon…soon.

# Offroading Home, January 28th 2014

Actually guys, you’ve be surprised how many people have done something they disliked for 9 or more hours a day.  Why do you think some of them are probably following?  You’re not the first, you won’t be the last, now lets get this over with on a high note.  Watching your dot move across this screen is interesting and entertaining; but, we’ll give it all up for a couple of photos: 1) you and tarka making an “ice angel”, and 2) an aerial shot of McMurdo station as you leave. How about it?

A side note for those who’ve been following using the Resource File. Especially now that they are coming down the home stretch on the Ross Ice Shelf an interesting way to watch their travels is with NASA’s MODIS satellite image turned on as a ground overlay in Google Earth.  It gives you the latest “Ice sheet” images to actually view the terrain that their “We’re Here” dots migrate over during the day. You can watch them navigate around the bumps.

The MODIS image is available free in the Antarctic Resource File available on this page: http://offroadinghome.blogspot.com/2014/01/scott-expedition-coming-home.html ; and there are a couple new items of note. The trail has been split into “coming” and “going” segments so that you can turn one off if you want to avoid the confusion.  That goes for the trail, campsites and the NEW “track timings.”  Look for the “There, and” and “back again” folders and click the box next to them on or off.

Track timings are new and show every GPS point transmitted during the day and night.  Hovering over the tiny diamond icon will make the time that it was transmitted appear.  Actually clicking on the diamond will pop up the coordinates and other statistics like: hourly distance, slope of the terrain, compass heading and more. You can get an estimate of the terrain Ben and Tarka are going through without waiting for Ben to describe it the next morning.

# Ariane, January 28th 2014

Things i have done for 9 hours straight:
-slept
-read
-danced
-and once, while on..never mind, not family friendly ;)

Transmitting 9 hours of fortitude.
-A

# Ione & Rich, January 28th 2014

be careful of those dreams of food:

A polar explorer Ben Saunders
Has dreams of eating ‘friandisers’*
And when these sweets ooze
A trickle of booze
His pathway makes gentle meanders

* friandises is a fairly weak rhyme but ok with a very english pronunciation!

# Alison Lowndes, January 28th 2014

I’ve coded for nine hours straight before now.. and started lauging at how utterly pathetic that sounds compared to your epic daily polar marathons even before I’d finished typing!  Try memorising the binary powers ; 2^0 =1, 2^1=2, 2^2=4, 2^3=8 ...........

# Richard Browning, January 28th 2014

Sterling effort chaps. Looking back at just how many pushpins you have accumulated on that tracking map brings home just how extreme the longevity of this challenge is. Its more of a crazy way of life you’ve adopted here for a good chunk of a year than what most of us consider to be an ‘expedition’!

But you both well know that the magnitude of your sense of achievement, not to mention sheer relief at stopping banging you head against that perpetual grey façade, will be in proportion to the sheer torture of the challenge you are enduring. There are no shortcuts to those feelings and you will sure have earnt them.

Look forward to facilitating at least one of those future coffee shop binges the anticipation of which I know is causing you so much torment 

# Richard Pierce, January 28th 2014

Dear Ben, dear Tarka,

I think it’s very difficult for anyone to understand how disorienting a whiteout is because they’ve never been in one. I suppose the closest, for me, is the sense of driving through very dense fog with your headlights on full beam and the sense of panic that brings with it (and it is, of course, stupid to use full beam in fog, but you get the drift).

It is, of course, necessary for you to plug on. You have no choice if you are to complete this journey. It’s still beyond remarkable that you keep going at your current speed, because, at the stage now where your minds are playing tricks on you, it would be so easy to say “We don’t care anymore. Let’s just call a plane and get out of here.” But you don’t and you won’t.

There was an explorer called Tarka
Who walked and slept in a parka.
The days were too white,
And he fancied a bite,
And he desperately needed a barber.

His friend was a ginger called Ben
Who was shorter by at least inches ten.
They were both very tired
And longed for a hot fire,
And the whiteouts made them sken.*

*dialect for squint

The Antarctic still has a lot up its sleeve for you in the ramining 250 miles. Beware, take care, and God Speed.

R

# Phil Satoor, January 28th 2014

What are you going to do with your rubbish?
You can’t leave it behind so why not bring it home and sell it off?  I for one would be delighted to possess an energy bar wrapper or an empty dried food pouch or even one of those salami packs that you licked the inside of to get all the fat, perhaps with some sort of authentication, knowing it’s been all the way to the South Pole and back and helped in a vital way (or at least its contents have) in the execution of your truly epic adventure.  Some people might think it’s a bit trivial to talk about money, but without it your expedition would never have happened, and then there are future expeditions to pay for as well.

# Jarda, January 28th 2014

Ben and Tarka,
it must be a great strain on your psyche during this “monotone monotony” but your goal is already in sight (even though it is a mist).
I´d like to remind that you are approaching the area where Lawrence Oates died (16th March 1912) - your great journey is also a nice reminder of this brave man…

# Chris, January 28th 2014

In terms of doing exactly the same one thing without changing to even looking anything at all different (or talking), the longest thing I’ve done (bar sleeping) in recent memory is stare at Australia from a plane window for 5 hours straight.  I wanted to, however, and my entertainment system was also broken.  Otherwise I’ve done an 11.5 hour (26-mile) hike with breaks (and conversation with friends) in Yorkshire, that’s about the nearest thing compared to yours but the conditions were warmer and the scenery more varied.

Plod on guys, and give a nod to Scott, Wilson and Bowers when you pass them.  I suspect you already did for Edgar Evans on the Beardmore and would do for Titus Oates if you had a clue where he ended up.

# CaninesCashews, January 28th 2014

Hi guys,

A day of milestones to behold.

Another couple from our side of the ‘tinternet – as of today there have been more than 3,600 blog posts since day one of the expedition. That’s quite a community you guys have built. Also your team are teetering on the brink with the twitter account @scottexpedition – 999 tweets! Great stuff.

Single figures guys – onwards.

Oh and lastly I applied for a job in Australia, but it seems I don’t have the right koalifications.

Stay safe,
Gav

# Tom Buttle, January 28th 2014

Guys,

A truly superb expedition - not simply for the physical endurance, the integrity, the ability to hold together smart decision making and of course the resilient friendship that so many people have recognised. You are of course truly remarkable men for all of this.

What’s almost as astounding is how incredible an expedition it has been because of the remarkable insights you’re offering back to the world. And this is thanks, of course in part to the technology, but predominantly to your abilities to express yourselves so clearly and openly whilst under such great physical and mental pressure.

Very few endurance undertakings of such magnitude can ever really allow people such a view of what you’re going through - from the emotions through to the detail of the terrain - in (relative) real time. Those of us sat comfortably in our homes and offices can never really feel what you’re feeling, but the quality of engagement is unparalleled.

Thanks to you, and to your sponsors, for such a superb commitment to this project. I for one have loved following, ‘liking’ and day dreaming about it.

The best of luck for your closing days - be safe. And enjoy the grub when you’re back. Nothing beats a hearty meal (and for me - a can of coke) when you come back in from the cold or the mountains.

Very best wishes, and cheers,

Tom

# Janet Stanley, January 28th 2014

Great going again , sorry about the monotony..every footstep is a footstep closer to home…...when I was a child & had a long walk to go on, I would imagine I was with Scott’s party & each footstep was an accomplished mile, it felt satisfying somehow & gave me the fortitude to continue. Great limerick Richard! Keep safe Ben & Tarka :)

# Dainger, January 28th 2014

Hey Tarks, a wee ‘home’ mail which may bring some cheer to those interminable days of hard slog. Have just de-neiged and de-iced your mothers car and can tell you, even though -15C is not quite in your territory, it does give us a wee bit of thought as to what you guys are going through in your daily struggle. We took Boogie out for a run through the forest yesterday eve and have to say, standing tall at 25cms, he was still more than a match for 35cms of crisp fresh virgin champagne powder snow. We’re thinking of getting a doggie snorkel for the poor we thing. Took lots of video for you but viewing it later in the warmth, all one could see in the footage from time to time was flurries of dusty snow, with the occasional sighting of a cold wet pink nose coming up for air. Upon reflection, white dogs, white snow and dull grey/white overcast sky doesn’t give to good video content, no matter how talented he is at acrobatic leaps of faith off the forest tracks and into the deep deep snow. You can blame the producer for that one.
Needless to say we’re all proud of you guys, you’re both continuously in our thoughts. Stay safe and get working on that snorkel. T@D

# Charles, January 28th 2014

I’ve done the 9hrs of pulling and staring at a grey blanket. 9hrs of having no reference point, where you think the ground is going up when it’s going down, where you lose your balance for no reason, where sastrugis come out of no where. 

Hang in there guys !  You’re getting closer and closer. We who read are all cheering for you.
What will come first ? a beer or a hot shower ?  I’m going for the beer or any other kind of booze.
cheers

# Ione & Rich, January 28th 2014

can’t control myself, limerickitis:

Said Tarka & Ben,‘By Jove! Our,
Generous sponsor Land Rover,
Can’t know how it feels
When you HAVEN’T got wheels,
Will they give us a ride when it’s over?

# Henry Worsley, January 28th 2014

Shackleton called it the ‘white darkness’.
So you are in good company.
More agony than ecstasy at the moment, but the sentinel that is Erebus will lift you soon.
Stretch the nostril wide….

# Caroline R, January 28th 2014

Ben, Tarka. I am enjoying the fact that you are inspiring poetic responses too…
Each step, each 90 minutes of sheer grit is getting you there.  And in your minds eye, imagine us cheering, willing you on - admittedly with a latte to hand - but humbled by the enormity of your goal, your courage and endurance. You’re doing great.

# MJB, January 28th 2014

I read the last post to my 3 and 6 year olds this morning.  I have been telling them your story and Scott’s.  It is -14F at home in the Midwest today with wind chills at -35F.  So I had them step outside to breath in the air and told them this is what Ben and Tarka are breathing, all the time.  This is their air.  I also told them that maybe someday they will follow in the steps of the Great Ben and Tarka Expedition.  You two are the new story. Strength and blessings to you both.

# Mal Owen, January 28th 2014

Keep ploughing through the mist because we all know what’s waiting on the other side.
Tarka is amazed that you’re not running out of things to write .... I am too because I’m drying up !
...........and so today a couple of jokes to keep you going !
I didn’t like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.
Did you know? Acupuncture was invented by a camper who found a porcupine in his sleeping bag.

# philip, January 28th 2014

Nine Hours Straight, with apologies to Edward Lear

Keep going Ben and Tarka,
Just remember to put on a Parka.
Your view may be dull, grey and white
But very soon the contrasts will be bright
And your clothing considerably smarter.

# Brendan Smith, January 28th 2014

Been following you on this blog, Facebook, and Youtube for months.  It has been a inspirational to hear your story and how your are honoring Captain Scott and his men. 

It just troubles me that so many people today care more about the Kardashians, Justin Beiber, and Miley Cyrus that true heroes like Ben and Tarka.  Perhaps when you are home and the media can tell your story it will give folks a chance to reconsider the people we look up to. 

Crack on and come home safely!

# Dave, January 28th 2014

I told my wife I would shave my Antarctica beard (nowhere near the vibrant colour of yours) when you complete your journey, so she is now among your most ardent fans.

I found the below interesting and wondered whether your route could be overlayed on the NASA image.

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/12/nasa-image-puts-size-of-antarctica-into-perspective/

http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/antarctica-from-space-nasa.jpg

Continued Safety and Progress

# Laurence B Jacobs, January 28th 2014

Brilliant question of yours and Tarks, “After all, how many people have done anything for nine hours straight?”, well the glib answer is many endurance athletes, but actually the real question is how you and Tarka are managing to conquer this epic journey 9 hrs super human effort a day for just the modest 110+ days continuously, nnt just one. As no one has ever done this, you’ll be able to answer that in the coming weeks and months, after you’ve had a wee rest and a snack! Keep safe and enjoy making history.

# Matt (Minnesota), January 28th 2014

Throw away your alarm clock; the only schedule you need to keep is skiing your full measure. Without night and day, your body clock is going to drift. You’ll feel much better if you don’t fight it.

The only debate will be over whose body clock to follow.

# doof, January 28th 2014

WOW! only 9 days to go you must be really exited although you still have to travel just a bit more. You inspire me and lots of other people we all think you are very brave to go and do this and look how far you have come. in my school we have been learning about Scott and we are also following you guys as well. i just can’t wait for your next blog because when i read them it helps me to understand how hard some of the challenges you must have to face. we all hope you are ok and that you are safe hope to here from you soon.

# Uncle Pete, January 28th 2014

Sounds like a good case of ‘sensory deprivation’ - like wearing half ping pong balls over your eyes! No wonder you get a to feel ‘detached’. Maybe the music saves the day, if you put white noise into your ears it would sned you right off the rails. I hope the team keep feeding you the limericks, hey how about spending the hours composing your own, add the final edition to the auction site! Gosh those dots are streaming headlong for the finish - keep it together and well done. And yes, all Respect to the original Scott Team in passing.

# Intrepid, January 28th 2014

247 miles of skiing to go, 247 miles to go,
You ski some more, make tracks in the snow,
246 miles of skiing to go.
246 miles of skiing to go, 246 miles to go,
You ski some more, make tracks in the snow,
245 miles of skiing to go….

In the whiteout
There’s no telling
What’s the difference
Between here and there

Without markers
There’s no telling
What’s the difference
Belongs to everywhere

Dear Ben and Tarka,

(Theme Song of the Day: What a long strange trip it’s been)

You are right. I don’t know what it’s like to be doing what you are doing. I am also not getting tired hearing what it’s like. How many times have you read your favorite book or watched the same movie again and again. That’s what it’s like to read this blog. Perhaps you think you are saying the same thing, when really your words are never the same. So even if you feel nothing has changed, the story of your journey continues to unfold. I would say that our attention is easy to rivet, even if we are simply watching the changing statistics or looking at a new picture. We feel. We wish for your success.

And so even if I can’t ever fully understand the brevity of what you guys endure,I don’t tire from hearing about it.

Slog on! And may you someday soon find the sun and the moon. And then someday soon after that be arm and arm in arm with an expedition of memories, turning the endless fog into the brightest of something (like you have been doing for us).

Ardently,
Godspeed!

# Frederike, January 28th 2014

Hello Selfies,

Keep going! You can do it! 

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

“But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.”

“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

“If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete.”

“Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible, and of changing himself for the better if necessary.”

“...it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.”

“Thus suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little. Therefore the ‘size’ of human suffering is absolutely relative”.” 

(all quotes are from Viktor Frenkl)

And here are some words of my own: try to enjoy the last few days as much as you can, no matter how difficult these might be. You might never again experience what you are seeing, feeling and experiencing now (even if it is just boring, white fog). Use your imagination to see what you want to see (in addition to those delicious meals you will be getting anyway). You might one day, actually, miss this.

Enjoy!
Frederike

# McDowell Crook, January 28th 2014

Keep it up, fellas. You’re so close!

# Helena, January 28th 2014

Helllouuu Ben and Tarka, you heroes, good to hear you are eager to be at home, I bet last 10 days will shrink into 5 as you will run next days hungry for food and warm bed :-D

——————————————————————————
After the game, coach yells at players:
“I told you to play like never before, not like you never played before!”

# ChrisH, January 28th 2014

Looking forward to seeing you both return through the area. Your trip may be 15 miles or so shorter unless you plan to travel to Scotts’ Hut over land or via inflatable raft. The waters edge is encroaching closely to New Zealand’s Scott base

# Pat, January 28th 2014

Daily,I look forward to and am enthralled by your most excellent accounts,  of how you both cope with the physical and mental trials encountered every day. You are both amazing . Wishing you well on the last leg of your epic expedition. Love the beards .

# Colin Buckley, January 28th 2014

Guys, it’s like that moment before lift off. The Countdown begins. -10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1!!!!!
That moment you’ve & we’ve been waiting for. To know you are both safe, and both back.
Not long now. The tension builds as those who’ll be there waiting for you, will be among the happiest in the world. Knowing it’s done and you’re home free! The Ice has been beaten. The record is set.
keep going, keep safe.
Colin

# Kevin , January 28th 2014

Hi Guys. The Beardmore and Ice Barrier seem to know when she’s has visitors both Scott and Swan experienced this and I distinctly remember Robert Swan telling me how he stared at Ice and snow for so long that he started to hallucinate and saw Spinoza’s God. He then tried to make a deal asking this monster not kill them and made a promise to protect it. Little did he know then that this promise would see him launch 2041 his quest to save the earths last wilderness!
I hope and pray to god that the last days of your quest to complete the planned journey that Scott was unable to do will be rewarding and safe with improvement in the weather. Gods speed. Keep going! Kev

# Intrepid, January 28th 2014

Saw a quote zipping around FB today. Tweaked it a little for you….

As you slog through the fog, just yell, plot twist! and move on.

# Heidi, January 28th 2014

We are so proud of all that you have accomplished.  We are praying you both through these last nine days. Regarding the whiteout conditions -I guess it must give you a glimpse of what the namesake party experienced when they were not too far ahead of where you are now. There’s a reason that you haven’t seen anyone else on your trek - it’s an inhospitable land, saved for passage by only a small handful of brave souls. Tarka, Ben, you are brave souls. We have faith in your keen abilities to slog through the fog to complete the trek. One ski in front of the other, and warmest hugs.

# J, January 29th 2014

I have been following your mammoth trek since the very beginning and am amazed at the strength and fortitude of you both.  When you talk about the white outs, feeling hungry, walking for hours into what feels like nothing, the more I think of Scott and his men who’s mental fortitude at the time must have been tremendous, without the benefit of todays modern electronics. It all boils down to the person himself, his strength of mind, the optimism to keep going, discipline caring and kindness towards each other to achieve the goal.  Both of you are a source of inspiration to us all.  Roll on nine more days. 
I am still surprised about the lack of media coverage.  I am in Canada and but no body seems to know much about you expedition here.  Anybody else no why.  It seems the world is missing out on history to me.

# Sheila England, January 29th 2014

I’m sure people that work factory jobs could talk about Monotony! (and exhaustion!)
Keep that cheery attitude in focus; it’s what keeps you going.
On the ‘news’ front, Pete Seeger passed away Monday night in NYC.
-Sheila

# Zoe, January 29th 2014

Keep on keeping on you two! Sending you sunny thoughts from cloudy Seattle, WA!

# Class 4NC British School of Beijing, January 29th 2014

Dear Ben and Tarka,

We are currently in the middle of our topic on Polar Explorers this term. We have been watching your progress with GREAT interest and wonder. Everyday the children log on to see how far you have traveled and how far you have to go. We are in absolute wonder and awe at the achievement of you guys. The children are going to hold a party in school on the day that you both reach Scotts Hut. KEEP GOING! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!! P.S Beijing is cold at the moment, so we are in sympathy with how cold it must be in Antarctica!!
From 4NC! XO

# Austin Duryea, January 29th 2014

Great job Ben and Tarka. Doing better than ever. The whole Ninth Grade Center is on their toes to wait and see when you get back. Especially me. Great job guys and keep up the hard work. I wanted to know if you had any idea on what your next challenge will be?

# Cameron M Smith, January 29th 2014

Good going, fellas. Nine days! What a journey.

# Ava, February 2nd 2014

I am 6 you are brave to be one of the people who go to the antarctic even though it is a dangerous place.