Route Map   Weather Map   Daily Journal         Q & A   Special Reports   Education Section           The Game		Rob answers your Viking questions Log Date: July 24, 1998 Author: Rob Stevens Lat/Lon: Still at anchor Location: Niaqornaq Weather: Beautiful red sunset Sightings: Soccer ball heading south Click on the pictures below to view enlargements. Well, it's been nine days again and you're stuck with me, Rob. It's going on one o'clock in the morning and we've been having a beautiful, red-sky sunset, complete with the sound of one of those beautiful slow-turning, single-cylinder engines in a fishing boat off in the distance. One of the five best sounds in the world. Three of the others are the sound of a ratchet brace, a bottle-top being opened (a sound heard less in Greenland this year) and the sound of a bell buoy late in the evening. The workboats here are just beautiful, most of them wooden double-enders. They look like they'd be a lot of fun to plank. Answering some of the questions we've been getting: Snorri draws about three feet, in our case mostly due to ballast rocks. Vikings in Vinland would probably use a ship's boat to explore with, or if they had none, three feet is not too much to draw. Hodding is still wearing his Viking clothing, and plans to for the rest of the trip. Except for his feet, on which he has sneakers. He went looking for traditional Inuit boots in Sisimiut but couldn't find his size, and also, on a boat he would need three pair. Plus one of us would have to chew them to keep them soft. I'd rather break my teeth on skibskiks (hardtack). I think that if John Abbott had to go too long without food - read two hours - he'd be willing. Cecilia asked us what we miss from home. Eric said he missed Danes, and going to weddings. (Don't know why he said that.) Dean said, without a second's hesitation, "Orange juice." I asked him what about Barclay, his wife? Then he said, "Oh, yeah, my sister-in-law's wedding?" And I said, "What about Barclay?" And then he said, "My cat." At which point I gave up. John Abbott, when we finally convinced him he was number three in the rotation (it had, after all, been three minutes since he had last eaten, so he was a bit dazed by the hunger) collected himself to say that he missed Vermont summers, when everyone comes out of hibernation. Checking sail, making all ready for the crossing Homer said he missed trees. Doug said he missed drums and driving around listening to loud music. (I bet some people in Summerville don't miss him.) Hodding said he missed his wife and the girls and that he wasn't just saying that because I was going to print it. (I guess the hug and kiss I give him every day isn't enough.) John Gardner said he missed his cat. I didn't even know he had one. Terry said he missed his sweetie, and sweating. (A number of minutes passed between "sweetie" and "sweating.") I miss ice. I miss having cold drinks and cold cereal. I'll let Hodding answer the question on how we go to the bathroom, since that's his favorite subject. Another question was about our days. When we are underway and covering some distance, we are on two watches, Port and starboard. (Port is always capitalized and starboard is always a small "s.") When your watch is on, someone is at the helm, another is bow watch, and a third, navigator. Plus one extra. We change duties every hour, and watches are either four or six hours. The watch handles sail changes, which aren't often when we are out in the ocean. Off-watch is often sleeping. Terry never sleeps, because he doesn't trust us. And I'm usually throwing up. The constant daylight has changed our sleep and eating habits (except, of course, John Abbott's) and we do things later than we normally would. We row to get in and out of anchorages often, and don't wear gloves for rowing. Greenlanders speak Greenlandic and Danish, and most people under 50 speak English. Well, it is now a quarter to two in the morning and you are safe for another eight days before I again get my hands on the computer. Speaking of the computer, that is also how we spend our days. Dean wrestles with twenty-first-century technology (the computer) and I wrestle with ninth-century technology (the rudder). Sort of the Peter Principle. That's it for now.   Rob heaves hearty. Can he also "teach them whales a dance"?       There are some that's bound for Newfoundland And some that's bound for Maine Heave away, Johnny Abbott He-eave away And there's some that's bound for the Baffin Bay To teach them whales a dance Heave away, me Johnny boys We're all bound to go Now a Viking ship's a waiting for The turning of the tide (substitute "a computer part to come") Heave away, Johnny G He-eave away And then, me boys, we'll be gone again With a good and northerly wind Heave away, me Johnny boys We're all bound to go So come all of you fake Viking men Across the Davis strait Heave away, me Johnnies He-eave away Be sure your boots and oilskins on Or you 'll wish you never been born Heave away, me Johnny boys We're all bound to go So farewell to you me Greenland girls Farewell Amuitsiivit Heave away, me Johnnies He-eave away If ever we're towed back again We'll be the laughingstock Heave away, me Johnny boys We're all bound to go. Top of page