31st August 2023 – Day 28
Thursday
We remain at anchor behind the spit with three “pingo” like mounds. It is a sunny day and the lee of the spit is providing calm water. Dan and I go ashore to smash up two bags of anthracite and split down some kindling. We decided to climb the ridge to check for prowling bears and explore the “pingo’s”. No bears were in sight, which was good news because we left the rifle on board Integrity.
The “pingo’s” we discovered were anchor points for large steel hawsers. The bay must have once been used to anchor a large vessel. We smashed away at the coal for about two hours before returning to the ship. The rather wonderful “Faversham” stove, made by Colin Frake, didn’t like the large chunks of American anthracite, so each lump needed smashing into smaller pieces by using a 2lb lump hammer in a frying pan. Well, it is something to do while waiting for favourable winds. Sadly the new weather forecast wasn’t good news. It now looks like we need to rest here until Saturday. This is beginning to make things very tight indeed. We played SH and retired to bed.
1st September 2023 – Day 29
Friday
It was windy last night, probably F6 from the east. There were icy cold blasts of horizontal rain showers flying by making night time visits for a pee over the side a very challenging event. Over breakfast the discussion started to touch on alternative over-wintering options. Obviously this would be a worst case scenario but Tuk is the last feasible over-wintering possibility. Once we leave Tuk we need to carry on through to Nome or turn back. Ice could begin to become a problem if northerly winds begin to set the pack ice moving south to cut off Barrow Point. We will need a bit of good luck to get to Nome by 14th September. We are all in good spirits but the actual spirits have gone. Certain provisions have run out. We have only one tin of green vegetables and no fresh veg except a few onions. I think there is one orange lurking in a cupboard. The almond butter has just one more helping but we are well stocked with “Smuckers” jams and Nutella. Rice and pasta are in plentiful supply. Will and Arthur are still producing fantastic loaves of bread. The water tanks are full. If we get to a settlement we will need fuel and have a minor re-stock of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (FFV). Later today we may make a bonfire on the beach. That doesn’t look too appealing right now as it is just 4°C and blowing old boots.
Leave a Reply