Arctic Odyssey July 20 - 28, 2008

July 25

It's marathon day, at least for the runners aboard. For the rest of us, the marathon of crossing Hudson Bay is over and we are able to get out and about on shore. We've acquired additional passengers as about 20 Inuit came on board yesterday to join in the race.

As I write, the runners and volunteers are getting their breakfast - extra pasta was available last night - but it's just the normal meal for them, minus the hot offerings put out each day. Oh- bananas have appeared. Must be looking for potassium. Now the call is out - is there any yogurt? Monique, a photographer, is shooting the scene, and the photos may appear in a brand new aboriginal magazine.

The rest of us are going to enjoy "contemplative walks" with the botanist and a longer hike on the plateau. Unfortunately, our time ashore is always too brief to participate in both offerings. Then it's back to the ship for a barbecue on deck. We have anchored in an exquisite fjord where there is no village or other sign of humans, apart from a well maintained mining road.

Yesterday was our best day - a visit to a village, lots of sightings of marine life while sailing through calm waters, past scenic islands and finally into Douglas Harbour. Several of the young girls aboard took up a petition and succeeded in getting us an extra zodiac ride in the evening. It was 11 p.m. in fading twilight before the last boat returned from the quiet ride. Twice, seals were spotted, and we glimpsed a soft pink sunset in the notch at the end of the harbour, but otherwise, it was just a ride that cleared the cobwebs from our brains.

My coffee cup is drained and the library is filling with early-rising non-runners. Time to find a staff member who has time to make sure the blog entries are sent.

Carol