David Hempleman Adams leaves the boat with his bag on a borrowed shopping trolley, Upernavik

N 70 11 W053 00 Pressure 997 Water temp 4.1 Outside temp 2.5 Wind 320 25 kts

Steve, 17th Sept 22:00 UTC

David is now happily in his way home so I’ve taken over blogging occasionally as we head down the coast of Greenland.

After a rough crossing of Baffin Bay I woke up on 15th Sep at 03:30 ships time (08:30 UTC) as we did the last 10 miles into Upernavik in light winds and under a clear sky.  A few orbits of fresh water icebergs from glaciers on the way in, collecting some ice to keep the beer cold and then into the tiny harbour with it’s own tiny iceberg.

Early morning party and then most of us go off to our one night rented house for a shower and sleep.  Then shopping for a celebration tea (pizza, wine, ice cream cake for Benji) and the airport to get Ros, Colin, Alison and Frances – very nice to see them all again, particularly Ros.   Ros has brought Benji’s favourite food, home made lasagne, in her rucksac from the UK!  Great dinner, good night sleep for everyone, big shopping expedition, big round of hellos/goodbyes and more pictures.  David reduced to wheeling his worldly possessions in a borrowed supermarket trolley so mandatory picture.

We’re off again at 15:00 local (UTC – 2) to Ilulissat.  More iceberg orbits on the way out then we head South, the wind picks up and the 4 new people all feel sea sick – in a couple of cases quite badly.  Makes me feel sightly better about my seasickness in the first day or two.  Lots of icebergs coming up the coast with the current from the glaciers in Ilulissat, then wind, then cold rain.  A hard night with Ros and Colin showing real resolve to come up on deck and do their watches in very unpleasant conditions and a lot of work to do concentrating on avoiding ice.  Benji does a 6 hour watch to help cover for the sea sick ones – very tired by the end.

Today easier to spot the ice in daylight but lots and lots of icebergs and associated brash (small ice usually fallen of the icebergs).  Great dinner, sickkies all better so happy ship.  One more night to go before arriving tomorrow morning for a day exploring but could be very cold as we have 25kts + from the North and lots of ice to avoid.

Steve Edwards (the techie)