YHC arrived a touch early to the stage to set out a few cones on the back end of Richmans loop for a light cardio routine (rest and recovery is my thing ya know)
. All was set, a few minutes to spare when nature called. YHC has become quite a fine purveyor of port o potty’s during my career at the stage. When demand meets supply plus IBS…well..Dr. Maught can tell you the rest of that equation this fall. I took a lovely light mosey to a very new Po’P to reread my bd notes.
After reviewing the walls and wondering why I should call Terry for a good time (does he know we have a free men’s workout?) I hustled out to make good timing. That’s when I slipped and hit my head on the curb and the lights when out….
…
Somewhere in the Wedel Sea
during “The other expedition”
Fierce polar winds threatened to rip our tent apart with every breath as we huddled inside for warmth. Captain Goose had called this meeting on our 400th day at sea, floating aimlessly on the pack ice.
He peered at us through a thick frosted beard
“I’ll be straight with you men. We’ve got 800 miles to cover in a 20 foot life boat to save the pax we left on Fartsack island.
There’s 9 of us and only enough provisions for 8.
There’s also a pistol with 1 bullet left..”
The tent door rustled open sharply and YJ popped is head in
“What are y’all doing in here, is this an SLT meeting? Anyway I’m doing my heavy hands routine out here to stay warm if anyone wants to join” …cricket chirps…
“Nobody?” This time even the Antarctic cricket was silent.
He went back out and a collective sigh spread through the men.
YHC shook his head in reply “ I’m sorry, we had to bring him, Rienzi 1 percenters funded the trip ya know “
Captain Goose cleared his throat to re-establish order “Well it’s going to take every ounce of strength we have to save those men and…”
YJ pops back in visibly more excited.
“Hey I created a song called ice ice baby , it’s got a dope beat y’all come listen “ then he strutted back out.
Across the tent, Tana pulled the last bullet from his shirt pocket, his gaze still stuck on the place YJ stood, he handed it to YHC with a nod. “Save it till we are starving but when the time comes you know what to do. Back of the head and Make sure he knows his backblasts were the best. “
YHC racked the shell into his pistol as a single tear formed then froze in the artic gloom.
Silence descended on the tent
“For the pax” I said as the light faded …
…
YHC regained consciousness just in time to walk up and meet 9 sea worthy men at the stage in record setting humidity. They trickled in slowly following an abnormally early Cardinal arrival (61% sleep and fresh roasted grounds works wonders, can’t wait for his Q Thursday ).
We circled up, all smiles, and only one of us knew what was waiting in the depths of the loop.
Duke it’s time to cross Antarctica!
Roll the footage !
Warmups
The usuals with 30 IWs by request because some jerk made us coupon lunge on Saturday. Chatter was at a zero but Bone thugz was just getting warmed up! A mosey to the bumper to get started.
YHC started a series of beatdowns today to honor men throughout history that displayed courage and leadership in the face of great adversity.
We shall call it Memorable Men Mondays (thanks smooth)
Today we salute you …
Sir Ernest Shackleton
Considered one of the last great Antarctic Explorers. Most famous for his attempt to be the first to cross Antarctica in 1914 and today we would focus on his leadership during that expedition.
First we needed to go back in time to 1914 and you if you are going to return 109 years the only appropriate travel is Nur. Goose repeated this a few times then seemed to accept it and I fear where his next time travel Q may take us.
So we ran backwards to the fresh paint lot into the age of exploration.
August 1 1914 : the ship Endurance sets sail from London to South Georgia Island with 28 men aboard as the Imperial TransAntartic Expedition begins. Their goal is to make landfall on Antarctica , hike across with sled dogs, and meet up with another crew on the other side…simple right?
28 merkins for the 28 men aboard endurance.
From South Georgia they left land and unknown to them would not return for 497 days.
Stuck in pack Ice only 60 miles from their land destination the Endurance began to slowly be crushed by relentless pack ice and they were forced to abandon ship and camp on the drifting ice.
“Ice Ice Baby “ by Vanilla Ice
Rock Balboas – Jump Knee Tucks on ice ice baby.
The pax had trivia which would free them from the Vanilla torture.
What Year was song released? (1990) 1 minute
What is vanilla ice real Name- Robert Van Winkle 2 minutes
What lawsuit did this song create – Queen Under Pressure copyright) 3 minutes
Two minutes were gained after Goose and YJ had a classic senior moment and went with 1991.
Indian run to the back of Richmans loop where we found YHCs full arsenal of COUS (coupons of unusual size, thanks Tap) with the coup de grace being a rowing machine YHC plucked from his brother in law several months ago in a blockbuster trade deal for sketchy discount medical care. The concrete schoolyard was ready and the pax were willing.
At this point Shackletons crew , after watching their beloved ship be crushed by ice and sink, must traverse roughly 100 miles of unruly pack ice all in 3 life boats to the closest land , Elephant Island .
To honor this YHC put together a circuit with various tasks to represent the varied tasks of the men of Endurance .
Everyone found a cone and we got to work.
Voyage 1 Circuit
45 seconds
Patience Camp to Elephant Island
1 rowing – 28s/m
2 seal jacks
3 Med ball hammers
4 med ball v ups
5. mountain climber
6. Leg raises
7. Suicides
8. Hickory Lunges
9. Freddy merks
The pax performed admirably here despite minimal directions from YHC. Bone thugs has progressed into quite a force of mumblechatter and started to find his voice as the reps piled up. Pope continues to be an unstoppable force.
In a 5 day journey the men make it to Elephant island 1/2 starved, several with frost bite but still fighting.
Shackleton makes the decision to put 5 men (including himself) in the James Caird, their best life boat and attempt an 800 mile trip to South Georgia Island to get help. They leave with 23 men on the island knowing that if they fail , everyone will perish.
Voyage 2 Circuit
60 seconds
Elephant Island to South Georgia
800 miles
1. rowing
2. SSH
3. BBSU w ball
4. Med ball v up
5. Flutter kicks
6. Apollo Onos
7. Nur suicide
8. KB thrusters
9. Med ball smash
800 miles, 17 days and a hurricane in the most feared polar sea on planet earth and the 5 men survive to arrive at South Georgia Island.
One final task to reach help and rescue their shipmates….
A 26 mile hike across the island (which is basically a glacier) to civilization.
Time to hoof it.
We left everything for a 1/2 mile sprint back to the flag.
COT and Goose prayed us out
T- Claps to Safety Valve for his second post after the Catan massacre. Solid work from BT as well.
SV 500 on Aug 12!
Jambalaya tickets for sale
NMM
I stumbled upon this incredible story this summer and it blew me away. The perseverance through obstacles, the mounting intensity, and the odds looking worse and worse at every turn will have you on the edge of your seat. It has my highest reading recommendation. ( See links below) .
The ability of Shackleton to have the men buy into giving everything they had to save the man next to them or the ones left behind was simply incredible.
Clearly we don’t face anything even in this stratosphere on a day to day basis but it did remind me of the men in my own life. The ones ready to empty the tank when the cause is great and the glory not our own.
Grateful to be surrounded by you gents, nobody id rather be in the boat with.
https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/127307/?refId=40886&detailsLocale=US&refId=41464&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7-y_mZW6gAMVcwetBh0rIgy7EAQYASABEgL8EPD_BwE
Epilogue
“The Other Expedition”
It was day 497 at sea for the 9 men who had left Fartsack island to find help.
The provisions gone , the boat held together in tatters, most men with blackened toes and fingers.
8 souls crumpled into the bottom of the boat clinging to life….
All but one continued to row.
The one they had saved the bullet for.
Scientist would later spend decades trying to explain how this man single-handedly saved his crew. Some say it was years of his heavy hands routines. Others say that the only manuscript of his backblasts were in that boat and he knew the world needed them.
But only the men of F3 Thibodaux knew
, it was the chatter , all he ever needed was the chatter.
“Ice Ice Baby” Joe whispered as he peered into the sky and led the boat to land.
His pax were safe and the chatter would live on.
SYITG
Dox
