Well, it is fair to say that Antarctica has been more of a mission than I ever anticipated.
But through it all, together, we achieved all we set out to do as a team and I am so proud of how everyone performed: from hanging bivouacs, to jetskiing in -25o, powered by bio-ethanol, from scaling an unclimbed peak to flying electric powered paragliders over the vast ice continent.
I have a price to pay though, having sustained one of the most painful injuries I have ever had, when I severely crushed my shoulder in the latter stages of the expedition.
My right shoulder and clavicle bones were smashed apart in a kite-skiing fall in high winds and sub-zero temperatures (see the x-ray).
The UK surgeon I have just seen on my arrival back to the UK reckons this will take about 10 weeks to mend depending on if or when he has to do reconstructive surgery on it.
The full report from what happened on the expedition can be seen on the diary page of
www.journeyantarctica2008.com
For now I need to rest a bit. My body has had a bit of a battering one way or another this year and I know how lucky I have been all things considered.
All I know is that it is good to be home.
God bless,
Bear x
P.S. the top bone in the x-ray is meant to be joined to the end of the shoulder – that’s where the challenge of recovery over the next couple of months lies!
