A Step Too Far

Pete and Jools Bland were beginning the greatest adventures of their lives. But the once inseparable pair were each flying solo -- for the first time, pursuing very different dreams. Hers at home with Olivia, his in the Antarctic.

Julia Bland: There's a little voice in my head that says-- this person has a journey.  And who am I to stand in the way of that journey?

Neither of them realized just how much was at risk this time... The perils not only to Pete's life, but to their marriage.

Peter Bland: Sometimes you don't know the price of something until you've paid it. 

Pete and Jay had chartered a yacht to drop them off in Antarctica's hope bay-- then sail around the Peninsula to pick them up when they completed their journey.

The best friends made a pact: if something catastrophic happened to one of them, the other would press on -- alone.

Jay Watson: I guess that eases your mind if you tell the other person to do that as a friend.

Of course neither of them expected to have to put that pledge to the test.

Why we do this stuff, I don't know.

They planned to trek 195 miles in 23 days.

Pete and Jay braved physical dangers -- from whiteout conditions--  to a close shave when Pete fell through the ice -- but they were beating every obstacle thrown at them. At least so far.

Peter Bland: I gotta say, this is one of the most beautiful things, apart from my darling wife, that I have ever, ever seen.

Sara James: Were you in any sort of contact with Pete and Jay?

Julia Bland:  No, not at all.

Each was in his own world. Back at home, Jools had her hands full, between the new baby and running the farm.

Sara James: What were you juggling?

Julia Bland: Cattle - that wouldn't move from one paddock to another without forcing on horseback. We had shearing as well.

She took breaks to nurse Olivia but there was little time to sleep.

Pete was counting the days until his family reunion. But he was also jubilant that he and Jay had put those early setbacks and jittery nerves behind them and were halfway to their goal. Being "unassisted" wasn't easy.

Peter Bland: Wouldn't say no to a bit of support right now.

Jay Watson: Exactly, we need - we need the dogs now.

Peter Bland: Dogs and a helicopter.

Jay Watson: And if you bring the chopper in.

Peter Bland: Chopper, oh, here he is.

After skiing and kayaking for 19 days, Pete wrote in his diary: "I am really looking forward to seeing Jools and Olivia. I am missing them a lot."

Pete never questioned that Jools would be there for him at the end of an adventure. She always had been. But this time, the miles between them were nothing compared to the growing emotional distance.

But the end was -- literally -- in sight. All that lay between Pete, Jay and mission accomplished was an easy eight-mile ski down to the yacht waiting to take them home.

Pete would never get there. Jools was in the shower when the phone rang. It was the captain of the yacht.

Julia Bland: And he said, "Jools, there's been this accident". It's that sinking in your stomach. And it's that heart-racing panic. And - and I just thought, "What on Earth am I gonna tell his mum?"

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