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Jarle and Samuel - following in the steps of Amundsen - Source: ONE News -
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It was great flying back. Nearly 4000 kilometres down to the coldest continent in the world, and when we stepped off the plane the view was stunning.
We were surrounded by miles and miles of sea ice with Mt Erebus looking majestic in the distance.
We passed two small groups of penguins on the way in. Dozens of vehicles go backwards and forwards past them all day, and they appear to be standing there, wondering what we're all doing in their part of the world.
It's normal for penguins to drop in this time of year when the sea ice is melting and breaking up. And seals too.
But when we arrived at Scott Base there are two more unannounced arrivals causing a bit of a stir.
Two men had simply rocked up on four-wheel drive motorbikes, parked out the front of Scott Base and started unpacking their gear.
Scott Base isn't the sort of place people just "drop in to" - it's not like it's just down the road or across town.
The harsh climate and long distances involved means it takes a fair amount of planning to get here. Everyone official knows you are coming and they all know when you are leaving.
Turns out these guys are "unpermitted".
They've been well and truly "googled" and according to their website they're travelling the world following in the wake of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
"Jarle" seems to be the man in charge... he told us his name is Charlie, but I think it's Jarle and it's just got muddled in the translation.
Jarle, it seems, has been travelling the world in various boats following in the wake of Amundsen.
Amundsen, of course, was first to reach the South Pole, and before that he went through the North West Passage and spent time with the local Inuit tribes to learn the art of survival in harsh climates.
So Jarle has been doing the same sort of thing. Unfortunately he got arrested by Canadian authorities and deported.
But the Viking spirit lives on. Undeterred by this and other dramas on the high seas, Jarle has sailed down to the Antarctic where he and a friend called Samuel are making preparations for a trip to the South Pole next summer.
All very exciting and, as they say, it's putting the adventure back into exploration. Like the old days when men were men.
Yes, but some things have changed. Like these days people living and working on the ice look after the place and each other if things go wrong. They've got agreements and treaties to ensure the wildlife and the environment come first.
These unwelcome visitors have apparently spilt fuel on the sea ice and, when we were chatting with them, there was litter blowing around. Not the best way to make friends on the ice.
As someone explained to me last night, if they get into trouble, why should people here put their lives at risk, if they don't play by the rules?
Being the rebels they are, they've got a bit of a frosty reception. For the time being, the "wild Vikings" seem to have moved on.
Slowly the focus has now shifted to the Erebus visit on Wednesday.
It's a big event -104 people who lost family in the disaster, all kitted out. It's just a brief visit, but they need to be kept warm and safe in what can be a very hostile environment.
There's been a huge amount of planning to make this happen. It's now up to the fickle Antarctic weather to do its bit.
Read more Vicki Wilkinson-Baker opinion.
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