DAY 11: REAL PROBLEMS ARE DEVELOPING


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We departed Maxwell Bay and when we woke up the next morning something wasn't quite right.  To get to Resolute Bay our course should have been to the West as the map shows.  However, we were going East!  At the morning briefing we were told that, whereas the ship could probably get to Resolute Bay where the trip was to end and we were to fly to Edmonton, the zodiacs wouldn't have been able to reach the shore because of pack ice.  So during the evening it was decided to turn back and travel back to Pond Inlet.  This meant that the flight from Edmonton to Resolute Bay had to be changed and in its place planes had to be chartered at short notice from Edmonton to Yellowknife and then three planes chartered from Yellowknife to Pond Inlet, two for passengers and one for our baggage and to bring supplies for the ship.  Small planes because the gravel runway at Pond Inlet cannot support a large jet and, in addition, refueling would not be possible in Pond Inlet so these planes had to stop down en route and on the way back to Yellowknife before we could get on to the large plane to Edmonton.  A lot of work to be done in very short order.

Always something interesting to see

Where had been and where we were going

One of many glaciers

Bird on the wing

As we travelled back to Pond Inlet we had the usual education items to keep us happy.  We saw a film "Sands in Stone" and Cory the artist, checked out our sketching abilities.  The last activity of the day was a recap by the ship's photographer who showed us a video he had made of the voyage, a video we were given on a flash drive that also included lots of information, Ship's Notes - the daily news sheet, ice maps, a group shot and a ship's log.  Our fearless team leader also brought us up to date on all the arrangements he had been making on our behalf, he had been very busy.
Here we all are
Zodiac storage on the aft deck
Kayaks on their racks
Some of both
And another ice berg

The evening ended with the traditional dinner with the Captain, a man of few words but many worries.

Next Post: Going Home 

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