I Remember

21:32 on Thursday the 30th July, 2009

I remember Rolf Bae from my first meeting with him on our journey to Krosbu in Norway in June 2006. Rolf was always giving of his friendship and skills and I was particularly taken with his many discussions he had with Bjorn, Dave and Sigor when they were speaking in their native tongue. I could not understand a word. And on one occassion Rolf turned to me and asked me why I was listening so intently all that I could tell him was that I was marvelling at the way they spoke their words. That evening I was invited to their table at the hostel where they plied me with copious amounts of delicious red wine. That was the beginning of a friendship that will never be broken. When we met again at the airport in Ushuaia at the beginning of our great adventure we hugged eachother like long lost friends. Barely a day goes by but I think of Rolf and relive our time together. On the voyage to Antarctica I met Ger in the dining room of the ship as we were leaving Ushuaia. I had been keeping track of him through his blogs on the Beyond Endurance website and I was keen to learn all about his trips to the places where you need to carry your own air in your pocket. I was very taken with Ger from the very start as I was taken with every member of the expedition. On the South Georgia Traverse one could never mistake Gers location on the ice. His climbing skills and cool headedness gave one the impression that Ger was truely at home in the Great White. My wall in THe Hut (my den) is richly adorned with newspaper cuttings of Ger and Rolf. I see them everyday. I also hold dear the memory of Karen who was called home unexpectedly. Karen was a joy to be in the presence of and like Ger and Rolf a true friend. Karen was always in gentle mode putting us all at ease as we were filmed for a sequence of the film of our expedition. When Karen wanted to see the fire station in Cork and do some filming there I arranged that they would join the fire crew for dinner. Both Karen and cameraman Steve were given an added surprise; they were taken out of the station with full sirens and claxons wailing in two fire trucks to film a part of the documentary. Karen had a beautiful smile always but after her visit to the fire station it was a joy to behold.

Never far from my thoughts Friends Love and best wishes Jerry