The Finish (Part One - Log #55)
L O U ' S D I A R Y
Day 56 in Antarctica. Lou arrives safely at the end of his journey at 1921 (UK time), Dec 28, and joins Colin O'Brady on the Ross Ice Shelf. They become the first two people in human history to traverse Antarctica solo, unsupported and unassisted. This is the first in a series of final blogs to summarise what Lou has experienced on the Spirit of Endurance expedition...
Dec 28 2018 -
Good evening everyone...
This is the first in a series of expedition blogs at the end, where I just try and summarise everything. I want to use this blog to start with some thank yous. Without the help and support of so many people, this expedition would never have happened. It’s much more than me doing the expedition, it’s all the people behind me that helped make it happen that I want to thank. I’ll be coming round, when I get back to the UK, most of you personally anyway to thank you for your incredible support.
First up on the list is obviously my wife Lucy, and my three children – Amy, Sophie and Luke. Without their unstinting support, throughout the whole thing, this wouldn’t be possible at all, and they’ve had to suffer yet another Christmas at home without me while I’m out here trekking across Antarctica. So huge thank you from me for everything you’ve done and helping make this happen.
Next up on the list is my incredible expedition manager, Wendy Searle, who has worked tirelessly throughout the course of this expedition. She’s been up every night at unsociable hours, receiving my calls and blogs, and spends many hours every day processing that, transcribing them, posting to social media. Everything you’re reading and hearing and seeing, has all been facilitated by Wendy. As well as being a mother of four, and holding down her own full-time job, she’s been doing this as well, every day for the last two months, and right the way through the Christmas period. Again, huge thank you to Wendy for everything she’s done in publicising this expedition. She’s a real expert. I look forward to seeing her down here this time next year attempting her own solo expedition to the South Pole. So she’ll get to see it from the other end, which I’m sure she’ll thoroughly enjoy.
Massive thanks to Mrs Joanna Worsley and her two children, Max and Alicia, for their support. Obviously if is wasn’t for them, right at the beginning… I went to seek their approval and blessing, and they’ve been hugely supportive throughout. That means a lot, to have those guys on board and behind it. Hopefully I’ve done you and Henry proud, with what I’ve achieved and got the flag to the far side.
Next up, a general thanks to the Royal Marines and the British Army. I’ve served in both for 33 years now. They’ve really given me the self-discipline, the mental and psychical robustness to be able to complete this trip. That’s definitely been a huge factor, and thoroughly enjoyed my time. I’m still serving in the Army, and I still think it’s a brilliant institution and I highly recommend it to everyone. In particular within the Army; General Nanson (great Polar name!) again for his support and believing in me, in authorising and taking the ultimate risk on launching this expedition. That means a huge amount, thank you very much for that...
Onwards...
