Back From The Arctic

[rikytik]

2 weeks of cruising from Greenland, up the Baffin Island coast, Devon Island to visit the 1845 Franklin expedition grave sites on Beechey Island.  We had to get rescued by an Ice Breaker to cross over the sound to our final destination at Nanasivik, where there was so much snow and low clouds that we had to "cool" our heels fro an extra day before the aircraft could get in to get us out.  Here's a sample of what we were doing.  Got 700 more images.  What to do?

[DoG]

Yeah, but did you enjoy it?

[Vinnie]

Glad you made it back in one piece, sounds like a great adventure. Great pic.

[rikytik]

DoG,* what's not to enjoy.* Great chow.* Reasonably good wines, great beer.* Some pretty Russian girls on staff.* Lotta interesting lectures from the 8 resource staff on board.* One was the guy whose life the Film "Fly Away Home" was based.* Flying the geese south with an ultra light.* Turns out he's Bill Lishman who lives in an igloo style home he built underground not far from Toronto.* Really strange to visit a land larger than most countries where there are only 26,000 people living.* No trees to spoil the view either.*

sea ice at Beechey Island.  Makes sailing a bit exciting at times

[KingCobra]

Wow GREAT pictures! Glad you had a good time, not sure it's for me though&nbsp;&nbsp; <_<&nbsp;

The only water I enjoy is my hot spa outside.&nbsp; :P

[Keru]

welcome back ... dem some nice pictures u took&nbsp;

[unicorn]

Welcome back!
I really like the second picture! Basically I would like to see all 700 but that's a little crazy, why not present to us the ten best, or the ten most typical or something like that?

[rikytik]

Ok. On the boat the Russian gals were great.&nbsp; I fell in love with teh 2nd from the left.&nbsp; Taken in the dining room available light.


I'll add more "au fur et a mesure".&nbsp; Thanks for your interest. Truly a memorable trip.&nbsp; Thing we missed was eating raw seal--a real treat according to the Inuit guide who was along.

[Wizzer]

Wow man...that's a once in a lifetime thing...

U have any pics of the gravesites themselves...are they kept up?

[rikytik]

Here are the graves of the first 3 sailors (furthest 3) who died while Franklin wintered on this place.&nbsp; Their graves were discovered in the late 80's.&nbsp; The bodies were exhumed and were perfectly preserved, as you probably know.&nbsp; They were photographed, samples taken and the bodies reburied.&nbsp; THe grave markers are, of course, new and the site is maintained in as original a condition as possible.&nbsp; The nearest grave is that of a sailor who died in 1854, searching for Franklin.