June 14 - June 16
June 14, 2004 Yellowknife, NWT
The team gathered at the Bayside B&B in the old town section of the capital of the Northwest Territories - all except our kayaker/videographer Scott Simper who was interrogated for five hours by Canadian immigration and sent back to Salt Lake City for lack of proper work papers. Despite the prospect of this major complication we had a jolly late supper and turned in around sunset, at 11:30 PM.
The Wildcat Cafe
June 15, 2004: Yellowknife, NWT
While the rest of the team sort out their gear and the many items provided by our generous sponsors, Jeff and Steve try to cope with Scott’s immigration problem. Without him we are in a real bind. Parks Canada faxes us a strong letter of sponsorship, as does the Explorers Club, which has awarded us a club flag to go on the expedition. Through Scott we learn that it is essential to get a waiver from the Human Resources Administration, whose offices are just a few blocks away. With trepidation Steve and Jeff walk in unannounced and encounter a bureaucratic miracle: we tell the receptionist we need help, she gets the head of the agency who has us come into the conference room, listens to us sympathetically, gives us the right forms and tells us exactly what to put down and then tells us she will fax a letter with the waiver off to Scott within the hour. This is a process that normally takes six weeks! We can sleep tonight.
Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife
June 16, 2004 Yellowknife to Resolute
Up early to organize and pack an enormous amount of gear. You would think we were going by ocean liner rather than kayak. After lunching at Bullocks Bistro on caribou steak and char, we’re off to the airport to stuff all of our gear, four kayaks, inflatable boat, outboard motors and professional video equipment and ourselves in Dash 7 transport plane. We’re finally off at 8PM with two large buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a case of beer for supper. After refueling at Cambridge Bay we arrive in daylight at 2:30 AM in Resolute Bay, the weather armpit of the arctic to the typical low clouds and fog, howling winds and freezing rain. The response of all: “What have we gotten ourselves into?” But we are soon toasty and well fed in Ozzie’s South Camp Hotel, complete with Jacuzzis, cable TV, internet access and an exercise room - in a town of less than 200! From now on, with the constant daylight the days begin to blend together, as sleeping becomes somewhat arbitrary.
You want to bring what !
Loading the Dash 7
The team going North L to R:
Gino, Tom, Scott, Steve, Robson, Julia, James, Jeff, Bob