previous  -  #  -  next

Dispatches: Bridge over troubling water - Thursday, 8th April 2004

Day's Statistics

Expedition & Environmental Statistics:
Position:84.31.8N 95.04.6E (view route map)
Daily distance:6.2 nm
Total distance:163.4 nm
Distance to go:744 nm
Travelling time:8hrs
Temperature:-25°C
Conditions:beautiful day; lots of leads; slight to moderate north-easterly
view large image
view large image

Another day, another cheesy headline. I spent two hours this morning trying to cross a huge lead - about 100 metres wide. It was half frozen, with open water at the very centre and varying thicknesses of ice leading away from its sides. Swimming would have been almost impossible and I decided to follow it east and look for a crossing. There were a couple of points where it seemed thicker and I skied out to take a look. Both times, the ice was just too thin and I had to retreat nervously over the wobbling surface.

Finally I spotted a few 'islands' with thicker ice in between and started to cross. At the centre was an open channel, about two metres wide and slowly getting wider. The water was black - in places here it's three miles deep. My skis weren't long enough to span it and the thought of jumping and landing short filled me with fear. I HAD to get across. I glanced back at my sledge and for a second imagined him wagging his tail like a daft labrador. Grinning, I pushed him into the gap - a perfect fit (he floats beautifully). I crawled over on hands and knees and celebrated American style, with lots of arm pumping and 'who da man?!' before skiing off. What a day!

Today is dedicated to Jaime - hasta el verano, hombre!

Visitor Comments

# PAYBACK TIME

Just as well you made that peace offering of chocolate crumbs to your sledge after the incident with the ski pole otherwise 'it' may not have been so obliging. Are you sure it is not female? - sounds like it to me. Have a Happy Easter day, Ben, with as much mileage as last Sunday. It is a shame you have already eaten Val's Easter bunny but who knows what she or Babs will secrete in the resupply this time. We shall all be thinking of you, I am sure, in church/eating our Easter Eggs and willing flat pans for you! Love to the family and to Val. Helen xx

By Jonathan and Helen Haile on Friday, 9 April - 09:45 am -0700

# Great Read

Keep going ben the web looks good too :)

By Pies on Friday, 9 April - 09:28 am -0700

# keep up the good work.

i really have no idea how i found this site chronicaling your journey. but i like it. i'm trying to keep up with your daily progress. good luck and keep up the good work.

By Al on Friday, 9 April - 06:29 am -0700

# WoW

Way to use your head with sled goign accross the gap. Simply amazing

By Ben Stein on Friday, 9 April - 04:22 am -0700

# Ben - da'man

Hi, Ben
Absolutely! Thanks for a great laught this evening, specifically your American style arm pumping, followed by the hoot - "whose da' man"! Stoked, knowing your negotiation through shifting leads, then using Edge as a bridge, was superb adaptation to changing terrain. Tonight, you've won the global da'man award, motor on...
Best,
-Scot

By Scot Morrison on Friday, 9 April - 02:29 am -0700

# Your sled has spirit(s)...

...I think it's true. Maybe that's why it's so heavy...some of those old Arctic hands have joined you for the ride along...and offer assistance now and then. Keep listening to those inner voices about getting over those leads!

By Karen Tynes on Friday, 9 April - 02:19 am -0700

# survive and thrive

Hey how about a Newfoundland instead of a lab ? I love your sense of humor. It will definitely se you through the tough times of this trip. Keep on truckin' (or sledgin')

By sweet melissa on Friday, 9 April - 01:21 am -0700

# You da man! :D

Way to go, Ben! You da man!!!

-Sami-

By Sami Lilja on Friday, 9 April - 12:36 am -0700

# You KNOW your da' man..And so do WE!

Your posts sure let us know that every day! Ben, I must say...You amaze me everyday..with your courage, your inspiration, your ingenuity, and your amazing spirit! Give that ole sledge/lab. named &%*@#...a scratch behind the ears for me. Sleep well & Dream of good traveling weather! Keep Truckin' & Making Tracks! Peaceout...Tina..NH

By tina..NH on Friday, 9 April - 12:03 am -0700

# You're Doing Great

By the way GOOD LUCK

By Shayna Glassberg on Thursday, 8 April - 11:42 pm -0700

# Good Luck Ben

Today my cousin Shayna showed me and my family your cool website. I want to wish you the best of luck, and I hope you set your record.

By Shayna Glassberg on Thursday, 8 April - 11:39 pm -0700

# your doing great ben

ben,
Today I saw my cousins and told them about you.I also showed them your website.Thanks for writing back to me.

By Shayna Glassberg on Thursday, 8 April - 11:37 pm -0700

# Daft Labrador?

Just sitting here chuckling to myself imagining Ben pushing a Labrador (complete with wagging tail) into the icy water!!!!!!
Just make sure it doesn't cock it's leg up the North Pole and freeze to it.......
Ken. (Superflid)

By Ken Powell on Thursday, 8 April - 10:49 pm -0700

# First Time Visitor

Hey Ben, your site won a design award and so I followed a link here just to check that out but I found myself caught up in your posts and your adventure. I've just read through every day and I'll be here egging you on most days until you get there.

You've also inspired me to get off my bum and accomplish some things over the next month or so--if you can cross the whole arctic ocean I can accomplish some of my own modest goals.

I wish you well

By Jeremy on Thursday, 8 April - 10:38 pm -0700

# No one better to be da' man!

Ben, I don't think anyone would disagree with the fact that you are da' man! This dispatch really brought alot of smiles and laughs to all of us...Wishing you the best ~ keep the skis pointed north and the spirits high. Praying for you always, sending warm waves your way! Happy Easter ~ hope you have something special in your food assortment for the special day and that you hop along the frozen trail like a spring bunny! Keep smiling! We are all rooting for you!

By Michelle - Va. Beach, VA. on Thursday, 8 April - 09:56 pm -0700

# One more time

I got such a kick out of this dispatch, I had to read it again when I got home from work. I just can't get the picture of you out of my mind! Fear, anxiety, stubborness....then a light went off and you saw a solution in your sledge a/k/a labrador a/k/a *&%#@ idiot. Then you celebrated after you made it across the channel. It's so great!! It's amazing how you keep coming up with solutions to your dilemmas, but I think I know you well enough now to expect no less.

I was wondering how the boot problem is. You haven't written about it for a while, so I hope the last repair job worked.

Signing off for now with a smile on my face.

By Gwen on Thursday, 8 April - 09:01 pm -0700

# The STAR of the Arctic--Keep your light shining brightly!

Ben: You are very creative and fortunately your wisdom, along with your sense of survival kicks in and makes you who you are out there on the ice--a survivor, an adventurer and a fine teacher. There is probably something quite thrilling about walking on water. The pictures are great and we are all happy you are safe. . .it is like watching an edge-of-your-chair adventure movie and YOU are the STAR.

Ben, is all that water typical of the spring/summer where you are, or is there a difference and a warming trend at the arctic, do you think? Many a scientist would probably appreciate a report of some sort.

Keep safe and keep on moving forward!
Cissy,
Texas

By Cissy on Thursday, 8 April - 06:48 pm -0700

# p.s.

How DO you manage to take these pictures?? :-)

By Nikki on Thursday, 8 April - 05:44 pm -0700

# I LOVE the cheesy headlines!

I'd like to work at Serco...they seem like a nice bunch! And then there would be TWO Nikkis working there... ;-D I get the feeling they are extremely supportive of you and are really connected to you. Ben, how do you get such a great sponsor? If I ever make it as far as you, I hope I go with a sponsor as wonderful as them. And I hope to God my website is half as nice as this! :-D Can't see the stats yet, but I hope you made some great progress despite the scary black water! This dispatch is riveting...it sounds like it came straight out of an adventure novel! Interesting as always, including the cheesy, but clever, headlines! You take good care tonight and my prayers and wishes for a beautiful day for you tomorrow!

By Nikki on Thursday, 8 April - 05:42 pm -0700

# Laughed Out Loud

Hey, Ben. I have been a silent observer since you began this journey. Reading yours and Wave's journals is the first thing I do every morning. I literally laughed out loud at the picture of your sledge wagging its tail like a "daft" labrador. Keep on trucking! And thanks for a glimpse into the life of a true adventurer!

By Veeva Penney on Thursday, 8 April - 05:37 pm -0700

# Hey !

Just a quick note to say "its been emotional". After the rush of excitement of talking to you today I had a slight relapse of emotions where I came very close to shedding a tear or two ! Must be the hormones ! I truely feel for your mother, Val, friends and family.

In the meantime everyone here at Serco are right behind you and the enthusiasm is contagious to say the least. All the best and look after yourself…..

And by the way Happy Easter !!!

By Nikki - Serco on Thursday, 8 April - 05:20 pm -0700

# Bring It On!

u r da man - u deserve an extra large easter egg for crossing that lead in such a stylish way - u keep on smiling ;)

By Oscar on Thursday, 8 April - 05:16 pm -0700

# Awesome

You sooooo clever!
Praying for you,
Brian

By brian on Thursday, 8 April - 05:04 pm -0700

# You da man!

Oh, I laughed when I read your latest post. I can just see you after you got across the opening. Your continued good spirits are SO important to your success.

Press on, stay safe, and thanks for making my day!

By Gwen on Thursday, 8 April - 05:02 pm -0700

Dispatches Archive

The following dispatches are an archive spanning the 4-5 months that Ben spent prior to the expedition, the expedition itself, and the returning home period.

Up periscope!

Up periscope! - Tuesday, 6th April 2004

Apparently the submarine USS Honolulu is currently under the Arctic pack ice, 280 miles from the Pole, so I'm not quite as isolated as I thought... Today was another toughie and I was so exhausted this evening that I managed to let off one of my ...read more

On the rivet

On the rivet - Wednesday, 7th April 2004

At least I think that's the expression. I spent a few happy teenage years as a cyclist and secretly harboured ambitions of making it big as a pro - riding all the classics and big tours. I still do, deep down. Anyhow, traditional saddles used to ...read more

Bridge over troubling water

Bridge over troubling water - Thursday, 8th April 2004

Another day, another cheesy headline. I spent two hours this morning trying to cross a huge lead - about 100 metres wide. It was half frozen, with open water at the very centre and varying thicknesses of ice leading away from its sides. Swimming ...

That sinking feeling

That sinking feeling - Friday, 9th April 2004

I woke up to a beautiful sunny day, with only a slight headwind to complain about. After climbing over a bit of rubble, I spotted a massive pan - perfect conditions at last! It didn't last long - after 15 mins came the first lead, but the ice was ...read more

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday - Sunday, 11th April 2004

Apologies for the missing update yesterday - a technical hitch somewhere along the line (a server in Sweden, would you believe?) meant I was unable to send it. Today was great (as was yesterday) with mostly good ice and fine weather. The photo ...read more

Browse by month February | March | April | May | June

“You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” - Ray Bradbury