"One Down!"

And only twenty nine to go!



Remove all your clothes, jewellery etc. and put on the cotton gown. No books, no electronics no nothing, other than your prescribed water bottle and your pee jug, and in you go!

Then they lock the door!!! No way out unless someone chooses to let you out! Kind of creepy actually.

Then 5 to 7 minutes to fill the chamber with 100 percent oxygen and pressurize it to about 2 1/2 atmospheres. Lots of ear popping during this phase but no big deal for an experienced flyer.

Forty five boring minutes like this and then you have to place a mask over your own face which gives you regular air for 10 minutes. Apparently this has something to do with reducing the risk of seizure!!

Then another even more boring 45 minutes of pressurized oxygen and your ready to de-pressurize. This takes another 5-7 minutes and then they unlock the door and you're free! Phew!

I was hoping to catch a nap but being a little nervous at first this didn't happen. Also my freakin feet near froze!  I'm gonna ask for an extra blanket tomorrow.

It is going to be a long 6 weeks I'm afraid. Two hours in the chamber and the drive is almost 2 hours each way.  Combine that with the fact that my workplace is in utter chaos and that I'm training for an Ironman, and you have a recipe for stress!  My resolve will be put to the test!

(swim 1500 metres, run hills, weights)

"Tension is who you think you should be.  Relaxation is who you are."---Chinese Proverb

Love

Peter