Visitor Comments

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# Oh boy...

...you're on the expedition of a lifetime and you're worried about how "bored" we're getting with boot pictures? I enjoy the boot pictures, Ben...and I'm not bored with it either!!! And how can we even remotely NOT appreciate the risks taken to whip out a camera while traversing a lead that gets wider? You're truly a comedian...I really hope you read this one!!! -- Nikki

By Nikki on Wednesday, 31 March - 08:24 pm -0800

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# Careful...

I heard about your excursion and website this morning on a NYC tv news station and being a new 'stay at home mom' (of 4 weeks) with not much to do I decided to check out your website. I have a somewhat adventurous soul, having done some traveling around the world, and some light-weight hiking as well. For now I'm taking it easy with my little one. The best of luck to you and please be careful on the shifting ice. Your story about taking that picture on the moving ice gave me a scare. Also, follow your instincts- if you feel tired, rest up, as you did. The next day you'll feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the pole, the north pole that is.
Good luck-Natalie

By Natalie on Wednesday, 31 March - 07:50 pm -0800

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# Stay Cool!

Andy kindly let me borrow his computer to see how you were doing. I hope your weather improves at Antigua it's too hot, stay cool!

By Alexander Eckl on Tuesday, 30 March - 02:33 pm -0800

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# Go for it Cowboy!

What drive you have! You are a huge inspiration.
I'm sitting in the comfort of my Seattle home having just had a record high temperature of 81 degrees F for the month of March. The daily grind and frustrations in life that I face become so puny when I read your dispatches. I look forward to reading them and seeing the new picture every evening after I get home from work. I've been through a few dicey situations in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. but can only imagine the situation you're in.
I'll be cheering for you all the way. That boot may be priceless by the time you reach your goal.
Go get 'em Cowboy Ben!

By Steve on Tuesday, 30 March - 10:19 am -0800

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# Question for Ben

Can you access the web? Or do you phone in your updates? I sent a message the otherday. Just curious if you can read them all or not.

Frustration,... I know all about that. I'm here to tell you frustration is just another test for ingenuity, determination, and sheer guts. You can figure the boot problem out. You can make the trip. As someone once said, "... it's all about making lemonade when life hands you lemons."

So make some lemonade, fix the boot, and if you see any polar bears bring me a steak ;)

Paul aka DrainBamaged

By Paul Christian on Tuesday, 30 March - 06:39 am -0800

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# AND THE BIDDING BEGINS AT......

OK, Benny boy. Here's an idea, which I am quite certain a number of us polar addicts will jump on immediately.

First: choose your favorite charity or cause, but don't rush into anything. You've got plenty of time to think and make the right decision while you're incarcerated in your mobile nylon cell.

Secondly (and this one being the teensie bit of a pesky one): FINISH YOUR QUEST! Yes, you can, dammit! I know you, and I have complete faith in your stamina, tenacity, and perseverance.

Thirdly: as soon as you're kissing terra firma again, give that stubborn cranky boot of yours up for auction.

I begin the bidding at $2000 (American dollars)!!!! Yes, I am quite serious. I want that boot! Posterity. An artifact of polar history. The first ever boot to deserve its own lyrics for a blues song. Wow.... It's mine..... All mine...... Sorry, folks.

Going once! Going twice.... anyone out there care to outbid me? C'mon, I dare ya!

See, Ben, all we need is for you to make it to Canada with that darn boot, and you will have benefitted some very worthy cause. Start thinkin'!

And from here on in, every time you give that boot a dirty look, think dollar signs instead. Rack 'em up, Ben!

By Moki Kokoris on Tuesday, 30 March - 04:07 am -0800

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# Book Club!

Hi Ben
The day wouldn't be the same without your inspiring updates and great photos, you say wonky! what happened to your tripod?
Just joking.
Your diary entries, well It is like reading your book before it is published and learning patience whilst waiting for the next page.
Your ears should have been burning yesterday I was invited to go and lend some support to the guys about to head off for The Polar Challenge Race to The North Magnetic, of course your name crept into
our conversations so we continue thinking of you and spreading the word. Hope the sun shines for you tomorrow and the boot holds.
Warm hugs to you, Tony and Valeria and your families, Thinking of them too.
Babs X

By Babs Powell on Tuesday, 30 March - 01:51 am -0800

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# Etheral

wow,That piccie looks very inticing,all white and quiet and bright.....
hope u fixed the boot finally......
keep at it Ben!!!!!we all behind you..It was a beautiful spring day here today in England.

keep yomping

Jessie and Alf(aged9)

By jessica on Monday, 29 March - 11:02 pm -0800

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# jokes

dear ben we follow you're up dates every day and we thought you might need a few good laughs so here's so jokes.
why was 6 afraid of 7? because 7,8,9
what do you sayto a blue apple? cheer up.
you're locked in a room whith a mattress a calender and a piano . you need to get food water and get out of the room what do you do ? you eat the dates drink the springs and use the piano kyes to unlock the door .well we hope the jokes made feel better we got to go.

By Grade 5, St. Michael's School on Monday, 29 March - 10:58 pm -0800

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# I wish you many pans

Dear Ben:
If I could have one wish for you today, it would be for your future days to be filled with a multitude of pans so you could get into the "Force," or the "Zone," and see the miles fly by.

I can see (love the pics) you have worked very hard and been very creative in your problem-solving. You would not really want this adventure to end too soon. So, again, since you don't know me and we are all wanting to show you we support you, my offering is a wish for your future days to be filled with a multitude of pans.

Get plenty of rest for a positive pan-filled day tomorrow!
Cissy,
Texas

By Cissy on Monday, 29 March - 09:29 pm -0800

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# brrrrr

if you had a stick of butter can you brake it in half yet???

keep going...

By grace on Monday, 29 March - 08:38 pm -0800

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# wow

awesome picture. fantasstic. i was like WOW all over it... but really reeally scary too... :S Good thing you're resting, though i guess the waiting might be quite annoying. Don't worry about the boot pictures. we're not sick of anything you're sending us. we're jsut happy you send something to us so we can be with you somehow. Plus we all probably think about that boot all the time we have a love-hate relationship with it... (this starts sounding like some weird boot fetish... :P) Hopefully the thinking about it and trying to find answers to repair it might send good vibes, good karma and stuff and it gets fixed somehow... i'll stop the rambling, and subscribe to what Christy wrote about getting a telephone at 3 am from you.
Another groupie wishes you well
Rhea

By Rhea on Monday, 29 March - 08:25 pm -0800

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# Good wishes

We have looked at your pictures, we like all of them. I have had good fun. I hope you have good fun. I hope you don't see a polar bear because it might attack you.

Love from christine (5) and arthurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr(3)

By Dave Candeland on Monday, 29 March - 06:51 pm -0800

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# CHOW!!!

This message is mostly reffering to "The Broken Blue Boot"

How can you survive walking with water flowing into your boot !!

I hope your journey turns out to be a COMPLETE SUCCESS!!!!

CHOW!!!!!!!!!!!

PEACE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

from George Rexstrew

By George Rexstrew on Monday, 29 March - 06:36 pm -0800

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# You may be frustrated

but you made a wise decision to stay in your tent for the day. Get some rest and dream about lying on a beach in the Bahamas with Valerie.

That is a very scary photo, once you wrote what was happening while you were trying to take it. Maybe take less dangerous photos - we won't mind. :)

Take care and press on tomorrow, if the weather allows.

By Gwen on Monday, 29 March - 06:29 pm -0800

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# the Phone call...

Can you imagine getting a phone call at 3am from Ben, oh my GOD, I'd be a screaming (Beatles) groupie fan. :) To think you are talking with someone in the North Pole, in the NORTH POLE on a block of ICE! Dag Ben you are going to have to go to the moon, and give one of us a call.. NOW taht would be neato torpedo!!!! I can't grasp the concept of being on a piece of ice and all of sudden it opens into this black water?! God gave you brass ones honey. Because you are definitly going to need them. You are incredible Ben. The pic today looks great. I think you should try to put the camera on a ski pole and take a pic of you standing on ridge and let people know what you are up againist or if you can get one right at dusk or dawn, without the sun dog!

Christy

PS Bob, you will get through your troubles time too - you see, we are handed only what we can handle, it just takes time.

By Christy on Monday, 29 March - 04:28 pm -0800

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# Keep going !

A big thanks for the note you sent ot the Serco team - I know from our point of view its been pure pleasure dealing with you and Tony. You've offered inspiration to all who read your entries and meet you. In the meantime, back in the UK we are trying to keep Tony as busy as possible so he doesn't miss you too much - he's even doing interviews now which will probably lead to more autographs being sought !
All the best and we're all right behind you (even if it is a few miles away!)

By Nikki - Serco on Monday, 29 March - 04:02 pm -0800

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# Sun Tzu

Hi, Ben
Each dispatch, particularily this one, continues building admiration and respect, for your personal odyssey, to the remotest geography on earth. When seeing your photograph, my jaw dropped, giving me an example of how quickly in a matter of a second, your environment can change from benevolent to hostile. Today, a vibe of safety, strength, and prudence.
Best,
-Scot
San Luis Obispo, Ca.

By Scot Morrison on Monday, 29 March - 03:46 pm -0800

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# Think Positive

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
Success begins with your own will...
It's all in your state of mind.
Life's battles are not always won
By those who are stronger or faster;
Sooner or later the person who wins
Is the person who thinks he can!
YOU CAN! WE KNOW IT AND YOU KNOW IT!
Emma

By Emma Fontenot on Monday, 29 March - 03:46 pm -0800

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# Whiteout

Hi Ben,

So many obstacles to overcome- The weather, equipment-I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad that you seem to be able to stay positive through it all. I'm going through a difficult time right now too, but have been able to find strength and courage to get through each day, in part, by reading about you. When you encounter obstacles, you stay focused, and overcome them to the best of your abilities. I have been able to draw on your experiences and use that to remind myself to not get down or surrender to the emotions of the moment. Thanks for sharing all of this with us. I think your expedition is probably helping more people than you can imagine to realize that they can achieve greater things, or to see more potential in themselves - to see that there is so much more that we are able to achieve and endure. Regardless of whether the conditions allow you to complete your goal, you have already made a difference to so many people.

By Bob on Monday, 29 March - 03:31 pm -0800

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# Oh Ben!

It is not the subject of the pictures I care about. It is just that you are up and at'em enough to take and transmitt them. Keep'em coming and take care.

By Karen Tynes on Monday, 29 March - 02:18 pm -0800