Expedition Update # 14 - Direct from the High-Arctic! These updates are composed on our sub-notebook computer, which is powered by solar panels courtesy of UNSW, then sent using software from Global Marine Networks, over a satellite mobile phone provided by Landwide Satellite Solutions. Thanks very much to all involved! Date: 11/8/05 Time: 10:00pm Position: 70 deg 7.97 min N, 101 deg 42.197 min W Summary: Breakages slow progress Location Map: Click the map to the left and a new browser window will open, directed to Google's new satellite maps feature. The map view will be centred on our current location. Zoom in for more detail. Weather: windy... still windy! Temperature: 3 deg C Message: Hi Hi, Just while I’m waiting the 8 minutes that are left before my freeze-dried dinner will have re-hydrated itself I’ll just send out a brief update... Pretty much things have been ok, but slow. Decided to change route to follow long stretch of eskers (like raised gravel roads almost, that form underneath glaciers long since melted). So the next few days should be smoother going, and enable us to get a few much needed km behind us. However we are plagued by little repairs most days, string wearing through, webbing tearing, bolts slipping, but yesterday we were stopped in our tracks when the strong steel tow point on the bow where our harness connects just tore in half! Goes to show the hell we've been putting them (and ourselves) through.. bit of a worry, but we banged the bit that came off flat and made up a repair that looks like it'll keep us going. Involves a hole in the deck though.. so only waterproof things will be stowed in the bow from now on! Today we stumbled upon a whole community of ancient Inuit stone 'tent-rings'. These are rings of carefully placed stones that they used to weight down the edges of their hide tents I believe. Some were square in shape with little doorways even, and all smothered in age-old moss. It's fascinating to think that we just happen upon such things out here... possibly the first people to see it since its inhabitants walked away from it... In other news, a whole lot of arctic fox investigated us today - they are so adorable-looking up close. Got some great photos! So we're surviving, and becoming very resourceful in our systems, repairs and... food. speaking of which.. 8min is up. Cheerio! (left - bow steel tow-point torn off, right - another repair job) Back to updates list To send us a message, please contact us anytime!