BLOG, DAY 4
We are in very rough seas. 5 meter waves; people taking Dramamine and looking very
greay…. Crossing the Davis Strait/ yep we do NOT HAVE, “fair winds and following
seas”! Reminiscent of the infamous Drake
Passage during Antarctic expeditions!
A little more about how small the world is! (apologies that some of this is from the last blog post, just more information!
A person on board knows Glen Wolgemth (I went to high school with Glen) in Deep River. Lynda Triviers would be interested.
Also Rick Irvin, on board, was told by one of Linda’s friends Lorna Doubt) from Rankin Inlet that I would be on board.
Atout Shouldice from Rankin Inlet is on board as a zodiac driver, and an Inuit historian; wondered if Linda knew him. He is a supervisor for watersystems across the Kivilik Region.
I am honoured that there is a couple on board who remember me from the Antarctic South Georgia/Falkland Island trip 2006, in this very same ship, the Akademik IOFFE!
I must run, there is a staff meeting to attend and passengers to care for.
Sheila
Hi Sheila. Looks like a fantastic trip thus far. How do you compare this experience to Antarctic explorations? Finally favourable weather here with lots of sun. T. & B.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Terry and Beth;
ReplyDelete(in an attempt to answer your request for a comparison of Antarctic/Arctic
adventure expeditions....)
Each has its perk. If you enjoy being relatively up close and comfortable
with polar bear, you'll likely get it here. If the ice caps, glacial
moraine, historical stories of melting and ice movement, capture your
interest, then this is the place to be. Also Greenlandic communities such
as Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, deep in the heart of
the fjords are steeped in Danish and native culture, reminiscent of the
past. The trip across the Davis Strait for us, this journey, was turbulent,
reminding me of many of the Drake Passage crossings to Antarctica. Then
there is the entire encounter with the native communities such as
Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Victory Point (King William's Island), Fort Ross )a
former Hudson's Bay Co. trading post) and the Bellot strait.
Antarctica, especially if you take the Falkland Is. and South Georgia
option, offers gigantic bergs, a plethora of ocean mammals and sea birds
beyond your imagination. I still have memories of the pods of humpback
whales just a bit ahead of our sea kayaks. South Georgia, home of over
200.000 king penguins is truly unbelievable. The humungous elephant seals
of the Falklands, with their burping and farting is so entertaining.
Historically both have perks: the Arcic with tales of Knud Ramassun,
Franklin, Amundsen, Scott, etc... as well as recent explorers, which are
related through our highly qualified staff who have authored several books,
or are descendants from the explorers bring our past to life. Visiting
Beachy Island, gravesite of some of Franklin's men, the ill-fated expedition
of 1845.
Then the Antarctic, with Shakleton's tales (and all other explorer's tales
as well), visiting his gravesite in Gritviken (I forget how to spell, and no
'google' out here), an old whaling station (only on South Georgia trip)...
etc... I could go on ... over tea one day!
If you google Sir Wally Herbert, it will give you a scope of the calibre of
speakers on board.. his daughter, Kari Herbert, is with us (also an author)
and last night gave a presentation about her mom and dad, and life
experiences. Wally was an exceptional artist as well; died in 2007; that's
only one of our 7 presenters on board each of similar exciting backgrounds.
Cheers.
sheila