Old Boy Adventurer Howard Fairbank talks at Glenwood

I know the news is out...We made it! 9h05 EST, 14 April 2010! (Sorry, PDA started playing up after my swim, and also a shortage of sleep, has delayed this communication, but hopefully not its significance!)

Somehow, the PDA is working again, and I write this as I sit on the Russian jet that took off from the ice at the North Pole (Barneo station) to take us back to the real world of Longyerbyen, Svalbard. Gee, what an amazing birthday... Due to the bad weather the helicopter couldn't come out to pick us up yesterday, so we camped out at 'The Pole' and waited till 3pm for the pickup. (Drifting 8 miles from the Pole as we waited!) As the helicopter came into view, on a perfect arctic day, it was very emotional packing up the tent for the last time. Then for the most amazing surprise birthday present... Ruth stepped out of the big helicopter and I was just blown away...!! With me doing the expedition and her adventurous personality, she had decided to join a 6-10 day, 2 person 'Last degree' expedition and then meet me at The Pole. With our, much earlier than planned, arrival, I had accepted we would miss each other, and I would wait in Svalbard till around 22 April, when she finished, but here she was at the Pole on my birthday... The stuff dreams are made of...! I have to thank Victor, in charge of the Russian Barneo operation for his wonderful birthday present in 'bringing her to me'. Our time together was short but packed with emotions, as Ruth's expedition flew out to 89 degrees an hour after our helicopter touched down at Barneo'! I'll see her again in 7-10 days!

The Team in front of the Russian helicopter that came to pick us up at The Pole...emotional stuff!