He grinned over at the portly scientist who was busy packing gear in the duffel bag that lay next to their scuba suits.

I did a total of 37 weeks directing in the field - two to six-week trips to the Arctic during the UK summer (it feels odd packing polar gear while the sun's shining and you're wearing flip-flops!)

He also spotted a sawbuck packsaddle, a stock saddle and some packing gear and bags.

Loire remained silent and continued packing gear into one of the locker compartments.