The 7th Continent: ANTARTICA it is!
‘Moulded in fire, hardened in ice’. And ice there was a lot when FDs landed in Antarctica on January 26th with the Club iconic flag with its motto written on it. It is said that if all of Antartica ice melted, waters would raise by 60 meters! It better remain a cool place…
Why Antartica? Well, after 17 years of waiting in Holland Park and Kensington Gardens for one of representatives of the 7th Continent to turn up, the Club took matters in its own hand ands send Giancarlo and Eleonora to add the one missing continent and the 61st Nation. In fact there is a person, now resident in Buenos Aires, who was born in Antarctica: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Club will ask Diego to bring him over for an official game so to make the annexation legally rock solid and our status of the only ‘7 continents CLUB’ unchallenged.
The once famous quote ‘Where were you when the first man landed on moon?’ will be inevitably replaced by ‘where you when FDs landed Antarctica?’ Make sure you know the answer!
I leave you now with the official text of the adventure.
Donors, sponsors, friends lend me your ears
WE MADE IT. At long last!
On January 29th 2022 early morning we crossed the finishing line on the Antarctica Race. In style. Eleonora won the women half marathon competition and was 4th overall out of 59 participants and just missed the podium as She overrun by 1km at the first turning. In Antarctica sign posting can be deceptive. I managed a decent 13th place overall and second out of six in my seasoned age group, undisclosed not to worry the local authorities.
Running the race was the easy bit, despite the very muddy and hilly course, completed in a glorious rare sunny day with temperature around zero in this warm Antarctic summer which made the plunging in the icy waters of Deception Island look like brave but not crazy. 101 runners shared the feeling and we all agreed: very refreshing.
This adventure was long due as you might recall: first, three years of waiting list from 2017 and then in March 2020 with one week to go Covid struck, and it was only with 20th January 2022 that another window opened.
Covid tried yet again to get in the way as I tested positive on January 6th with two weeks to go. Luckily it was mild and quick and I could join the rest of the group in Buenos Aires.
There was a ‘Squid Game’ element to the trip: every single day we got tested, then nervously awaiting the results announced over the microphone: the persons positives had to quarantine either in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia or on the ship to Antarctica turning their dream into a nightmare. Luckily for Eleonora and me it all went well as if our good cause could not derailed any longer.
So many memories: the charm of summer-hot Buenos Aires, the Paris of Latam, the surreal Ushuaia, the furthermost southern city in the world, the calm water of the Beagle channel in sharp contrast to the giant waves of the Drake passage, not a pleasant 1,200km journey if you are seasick, the unique landscape of Antarctica and its whales, seals, penguins and birds and many more.
BUT when it comes to feelings nothing beats the pride for the fund raising and the gratitude towards Lymphoma action and all those who fight cancer, improving and saving lives every single day. This will stay forever.
THANKS to those who have already donated two years ago trusting us to complete the challenge which is now mission accomplished and THANKS to those who are going to donate now by clicking to the link below.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/giancarloelecastelli
