Day 10 - Calm & climbing after the storm

The storms have gone, for now at least, and today we climbed up to a high point, where at 1200m, we are extremely close to the highest point on the island of 1700m. We are on a plateau with the most stunningly beautiful view of mountains and glaciers on all four sides around us. As has become the established pattern, the storm dropped and behind it left not even the faintest breath of wind. This meant we spent all day trudging uphill with our sleds. Some of us enjoyed this more than others. Whilst Cynan found it a miserable trek, David could not have been happier; he is all for walking and climbing anywhere and everywhere and not short distances either. He is our real leader of the pack at the moment!

We now have a slightly revised itinerary due to the weather problems we have experienced and will unfortunately no longer be heading to the very north of the island, as we are constrained by time. We are going to stay on the plateau we have reached for at least a day and do as much kiting as we possibly can, without our sleds, and have some real fun.

We have been on rather a weekend schedule here, where we are 3 hours or so behind normal time each day – up, packed and on the move by 11am and dinner around 10pm. Whilst we hear reports that you have been basking in temperatures of 24°C in London, we are enjoying a slightly less balmy -30°C. It is cold, bitterly cold. David and Cynan have been having hot water bottles for the last few nights. Dan and Charlie thought they were too tough for such nonsense, but they have since followed suit, and now we are all complete converts to the favourite of old ladies!

Now Charlotte, 18 ¾ from Essex, who thought Dan was really rather nice – we were a little disappointed when you failed to make an appearance at our send off drinks. Little did we realise that Dan`s youthful admirer was much closer than we thought - of course, who else other than the charming, cheeky Charlie himself. Charlie, having already secured himself a place in a tent with the dashing Dan, and since convincing him to reheat his toes under his armpits, has now revealed his true identity. Dan has been bartering ever since for a bed in the tent with Cynan and David - absolutely no chance. The dried fruit is having a severe effect on Dan, and besides, Ozone needs the extra warmth. Ozone is having a lot of fun, though he is also very cold, even if this is his natural habitat. He is snuggling up to Charlie and Dan in the tent and has his own hot water bottle too.

We would like to say a big thank you to Flexcell for our superb solar panel. It is working brilliantly.

We would also like to wish Charlie`s father a very happy 60th birthday for tomorrow, 17th April!

We will get back to you very soon with an update on our day of kiting!

Regards

The BearDodging.co.uk Team
Cynan, Charlie, David & Dan