It was very
calm here in Cambridge Bay overnight with the exception of a few strange noises
against the hull. We awoke to find that the whole Bay had flash-frozen in the
night and was completely covered in ice!
One local told us this was the
earliest he’d seen it in his fourteen years of residency. Hope this isn’t an
indicator of the type of winter we will be experiencing soon. The ice has
turned to slush now, but, will be returning.
 |
| Frozen solid |
It’s
just as well then that we think we have our plans made for the winter now. We’ll
be hauling Gjoa onto the shore early next week after the annual barge visit and
unloading occurs. We will still be freezing-in aboard a boat though, just not
Gjoa. We’ve agreed to be winter caretakers aboard the tug Tandberg Polar.
It’s
quite a responsibility but a win/win situation for both of us. We will have
more space and heated accommodation (we’re not sure what the temperatures will
be aboard, but, hopefully they’ll be plus temperatures) and they will have a
presence on the boat for both security and to ensure that the heat stays on.
 |
| Tandberg Polar |
The
Tandberg Polar is the tug that brought the submersible barge, Jensen, here to
Cambridge Bay to lift the wreck of Roald Amundsen’s boat, Maud. We were
following the project prior to actually meeting the tug and crew in Aasiat,
Greenland. We continued to follow their progress and our paths crossed again in the North West Passage at
both Lancaster Sound and again at Fort Ross. They transited Bellot Strait and
arrived in Cambridge Bay a few days after we did.
We’re
quite honoured to be able to play even a small part in the project.
Since 2010/11 when we we cruised and overwintered in Norway, we’ve had a lasting interest in the country, its people and both our countries’ history of Arctic exploration. The project’s website is:
Since 2010/11 when we we cruised and overwintered in Norway, we’ve had a lasting interest in the country, its people and both our countries’ history of Arctic exploration. The project’s website is:
It’s a
very exciting time to be here in the North. I’m sure you’re all tired of the
Franklin ship story by now, but, it was thrilling news for us as we had met quite
a few of the boats and people involved in the search. We also sailed in the
very same waters where the ship was eventually found and thought often of all
those that had gone before us.
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Cambridge
Bay 17/9/2014 12:00
So sorry that you don't seem to reply to blog questions. Hope you continue to blog about your experience with haul-out and layup of GJOA and living aboard a tug against the barge through a cold Cambridge Bay winter. Did they run a power line down to the dock for electricity?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are having a ball! Sounds fantastic what you've managed to arrange for the winter months - room for more??? Beautiful photos too. Cambridge Bay looks quite a spot to hang out. How much boating will you do in the tug? does it cut ice? or will it be holed up for the winter too?
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