Social whirl at the E-Base

Lunch with the Uruguayans yesterday and this evening Alejo came round for tea, as Russell would say, so the evening meal rather than the hot drink. Alejo Contreras has supported 2041 for many years and is an Antarctic legend in his own right.

Stuart asked whether Alejo had been to the South Pole. ‘Yes, yes, seventeen times. Once was by walking, twice by skidoo and the rest was flying,’ was the casual reply.

He regaled us with tales of life in Antarctica, dropping into conversation such snippets as climbing Mount Vinson with Reinhold Messner, having a cup of tea with Prince Andrew and how to survive an avalanche.

Jonny has been filming interviews with him over the past couple of days and we will be putting up a video later this week. ‘There’s enough here for a full documentary,’ was Jonny’s first comment, reviewing the tapes this evening. Let’s hope someone commissions one soon!