Day 1: Greenland and the Northwest Passage, Aug. 14-25/13
We zodiac cruised into Kangerlussuaq Sodre Stromfjord which
cuts 120 km. inland into Greenland. We
landed at a former American Airbase (Blue West Eight and Camp Lloyd) just above
the Arctic Circle. Jaccques , Eva, and I
were responsible to host all immanently departing passengers on a 2 ½ hour bus tour up to the infamous ICE CAP
(this is the entire Greenlandic ice cap that goes for hundreds of miles into
the interior of Greenland). Upon arrival
we hiked up on the enormous ice cap knowing that this was the very one that
we’d watched on the news not long ago, when huge flooding and overflow, due to
quakes had taken out the bridge, etc. causing enormous flooding and damage. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever
think that I’d be walking on such an ancient wonder of the world, where raging
currents and fast waters hurled silt down the steep terrain, making waterways
silty, murky, and grayish brown.
The very same day, we saw the Baffin Is./Greenland
passengers off on the plane, at the international airport, and awaited the new
set of 100 passengers for the Greenland/Northwest Passage, so that we could
greet and bring them via zodiac onto our wonderful ship the Akademik IOFFE. NORM SMITH AND HIS SON BRAD, from Blind
River, ON are part of this new gang! I
sat with them at dinner tonight, as we sailed up Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland!
Got all settled in with fire drills, briefings, dinner, and
all. NOW at midnight, to BED.
sheila
