19th July in Murmansk Day before departure towards North East passage
I always know when people are getting close to port or near the last few days to an expedition. You can feel the excitement of the first beer. Shower and toilet. The laughing goes up. People are more helpful and the realisation that something is about to finish.
Conversely on most expeditions and this one is no exception the start of into the unknown is a telling experience. People get anxious. Quiet and retrospective
Will we be lucky. We have covered all the bases.
With luck, and I have kissed my lucky beads, we will be off tomorrow. We are ready BUT whilst I am confident we will get through the ice it is when and how.
All of the Ice charts from Russia Canada and the USA show we can get around across the Barents Sea across the Kara sea and then we hit the ice. In 10 days time will it have retreated enough. Could we get lucky and get a Southerly wind for two days that would shift the ice off shore ? Unknowns.
I am reminded of the Quote in the seven pillars of wisdom. All men dream, but not equally !
My dream is a long way from reality but at least we are bold enough as a team to try.
It is an interesting game of chess. If we leave until our path is free of ice will we have enough time to get through the North west pass before it refreezes and get down the coast of Greenland and across the North Atlantic before the Winter storms chase us home
So one step at a time. Leave and sail safely across one sea at a time.
David
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Good luck we will be routing for you!
You can do it Hempie. One sea at a time.