Follow Bert's Atacama Quest!

Not much happening here at the moment. We are still waiting for ice and hoping for the winter to start in ernest ... soon.

While waiting for winter in Greenland, or escaping the winter in your part of the world, you might want to check out Bert Poffé's preparations for the Atacama Crossing 2010.

Click on the picture above or here for the link.

Best of luck Bert!

Bubbles!

Thinking of the coming summer I had a look through some of my whale video again. Besides scaring the crap out of myself I had fun trying to figure out if the bubbles I saw came from my paddle or the whale. At the end of this short video you can see just how big a bubble the humpback blows when it is feeding.

Modifying the Folbot Kodiak

I am not known for being particularly good at practical projects. Nor am I known for repairing things neatly - if I repair something I can't hide the fact! My favourite material to work with is dental floss and I liberally thread it through everything, many times, until I think I have solved the problem - i.e. it is "fixed". Not pretty, but fixed!


Luckily, the Kodiak lends itself to plenty of subtle modifications without too much invasive surgery. Using brass rings found on tarpaulins - not very technical language here I know - I made a hole in the spray-deck to allow the rudder cables to pass through without rucking up the deck. The cables themselves have been switched out with good old Greenlandic fishing line - the metal cables proved too complicated for me! The line itself is encased in poly tubing used in aquariums.


A small carabiner and some parachute cord is used to hold the seat in the upright position when entering the boat. I have also made some small cuts through the seat in order to attach a Crazy Creek inflatable cushion to make life a little more comfortable. I learned quickly that too much air makes a cushion into concrete!



The aluminum frame is great for attaching gear and with some nylon webbing and assorted plastic fasteners I made a home for the camera drybag in the space under my knees.



It was so easy to install these straps that I can't wait to figure out what else I can "secure" to the boat in this way.


The sun might have returned but I have plenty of projects to occupy me during the winter before the expedition is scheduled to start.

Here Comes the Sun ... kind of

Today saw the return of the sun in Uummannaq. A special day, even more so because of the 15 minutes extra sun/light we get each day now until the midnight sun sometime in May. We certainly have a lot more light now. Now all we need is the ice and some minus temperatures!



Of course, I did not have the camera with me to school today. So no pictures of the sun I am afraid. But last night, the Northern Lights were quite spectacular. I was too late to catch the different colours but I had plenty of green to keep me occupied.


About the only thing I could wish for during the expedition this summer is the the Northern Lights. They will be there, just invisible. However there should be plenty of other things to marvel at!

Mike & Francine speak Greenlandic!

Introducing Mike and Francine for a bit of fun and shameless expedition promotion!

Here's Part I of Mike & Francine speaking Greenlandic.

Thanks to Bryan over at Nessmuking.com for the heads up about Xtranormal text-to-movie animation tools. I have to get busy now on the script for Part II where Mike and Francine conjugate Greenlandic verbs!

Wishing on a Sky Lantern!

It takes one thoughtful mum and a lot of publicity on the tv to create a great entrance to the New Year, 2010, the year of The Seven Settlements kayak exped! We launched four of these biodegradable beauties on the 4th of January, each one carrying wishes for the coming year.

As the latter half of 2009 was pure survival, from a non-kayaking point of view anyway, it is with some expectation that we are all looking forward to 2010. However, inspired by a Slovakian (I think) big-river-swimmer I saw in a television documentary, I would like to paraphrase and share the wisdom of his river boat captain:

There are 3 things you should do ...

1. Throw away plan A
2. Throw away plan B
3. Just relax!

I honestly don't know or can't remember in what context he related such pearls but, I have taken them to heart!


With 170 days (ish) before expedition start I have plenty to keep myself occupied with, not least: getting in shape! But with the last of the four sky lanterns I would like to wish everyone embarking on or currently participating in expeditions in 2010 Happy Trails and many interesting adventures!

Clim-ATIC!

Now that the ice is beginning to form - yes, really - I have no kayaking stories to tell. The Folbot Kodiak is packed away for the winter and the carbon-fibre paddle really doesn't need sanding and varnishing. However, I could make a "ditch kit" as suggested by Bryan over at Nessmuking. Brilliant article.

But, I have opted for a little more Arctic News. I am currently in the process of finalising my participation on a course for teachers in Lycksele, Lapland in February next year. As more details become available I'll post them here. In the meantime, check out the Clim-ATIC website for information about this forward-thinking group.

International Polar Foundation, Part II

If you are following my interview then I'd like to let you know that part two is now online at the International Polar Foundation's educational site: Educapoles.

I have really enjoyed my relationship so far with IPF and would like to thank Clémentine Rasquin for collaborating on this project which is not quite finished yet! My 8th grade students and I are working on a presentation which we hope will be ready during the ice season.

International Polar Foundation

For something completely different; less kayaking anyway, click here to read the first part of an interview I did with the International Polar Foundation for the educational website.