Bering Strait - First Amphibious Crossing

“Mac, it’s Steve Burgess.”

“What are you doing home?” I asked.

Steve explained how his Cape to Cape Expedition, driving from the UK to the southern tip of South America had gone like clockwork until they tried to make the crossing of the Bering Strait. His amphibious Defender was now beached on the island of Little Diomede just 25 miles away from mainland Alaska and a place in the record books.

“We just can’t get the safety boat crew motivated to help us across. It takes two of us to re-fit the floats on the Land Rover to get her ready to sail and by the time we’ve done this, the safety boat crew have disappeared. It’s only a tiny settlement, but when we finally find them, the weather has closed in again or they’ve got smashed and are sound asleep!”

“What do you need me to do?” I asked.

“My team-mate, Dan Evans' brother Adam is coming out as well and what we need you guys to do is keep on top of the safety-boat crew and get that boat in the water. Once we’re at sea, we have to keep going.”

“When are you leaving?”

01 - Arriving at the Inuit village of Wales, Alaska

“Next Monday, the 4th! We’ve got to go back this August as the weather will worsen with winter approaching. If we don’t complete it this year, we will have to wait until summer 2009. A German team are leaving in the winter of 2008 and trying to be the first as well. They’re using Jeeps!”

That was it. Germans using Jeeps, it was a case of national pride! I had to help Steve complete his goal and get Land Rover into the record books, but there was just one small problem – my ‘better half!’ Now although she’s only a pint sized thing, she is the boss of the World’s Strongest Man competition – they’re all scared of her, so come on guys be fair, what chance do I stand?!

Our daughter was only 4 months old and the 4th August was Lisa’s first day back at work after maternity leave – the timing wasn’t good. This was obviously going to upset her, plus my mother would have to come and babysit while I was away. I protected my vital organs as I broke the news!

“Any chance I can go away on an expedition dear?” I pleaded pitifully!

“How long for?”

“About three weeks!” I ducked, clutching parts firmly for fear of what was to follow.

There was no screaming, no plates being flung around the room, all was quiet. I looked up.

06 - The Bering Strait team (in red) with crew aboard the safety boat en route to Little Diomede

“OK, as long as you finish all the DIY before you go away again. The list of jobs came thick and fast. Lounge, stairs, landing and porch re-plastered and painted; bathroom re-plastered and entirely new suite; new carpets all round; lounge floor sanded and varnished; new fence in the back garden; new trees planted in the front; tidy your garage and oh, wash my car as well!”

“Deal!”

I’m sure that I would pay for my eagerness to strike a deal later, but for now it was a case of ‘get packing.’

I drove up to Steve’s house on the Sunday night where we packed extra food rations into our kit bags. We might be out on the water for twelve hours or more and that was if things worked well. In an emergency, we had to be prepared to sit out on the water for at least 24 hours before any help might arrive.

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