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User Defined Text
Author: Hodding
Lat/Lon: 63 22.8 N 62 57.7 W
Location: Davis Strait
Course: 280 True
Speed: 1.5 knots
Weather: Overcast
Sightings: Land
Date: 8/9/98
Hodding reports: "We're almost there!"
Click on the pictures below to view enlargements.
Log Date: August 09,1998
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"Land's popping up all over the place. Ghaaaa!" Terry just exclaimed. We can see it clearly -Brevoort Island. We rowed all night last night, somewhat sporadically since we were still 45 miles from land. The rowing was not discouraging--oddly uplifting, actually. We raised our sail at around 8:30 this morning when the wind returned. About 15 minutes later Rob thought he saw land and those of us awake readily agreed. It quickly disappeared behind a fog bank, however. Starboard watch, who were sleeping under the tarp, did not believe us. Now, though, it's as clear as the dozen or so massive icebergs that dot the landscape. It looks close, but we still have 32 miles to go. We could be there tomorrow, late tonight or never--depending on what the wind has in store for us. For now, the wind is pushing us straight there at a little less than 2 knots.
The Vikings called Baffin "Slabland" and the islands rising straight out of the water do look barren through the binoculars. But, although Leif thought the land was worthless, it looks anything but to me.
I'm having a hard time writing. Not because I'm so excited about seeing land but because John Abbott is clopping all around me as he prepares to rivet his reindeer handle knife. I'm thinking about pushing him overboard. Actually, the last five days have been so amazing that living at such close quarters has not been a problem, although it did get a little stinky in the underway tarp.
I still can't believe that we are crossing Davis Strait in an open boat. I have been exhausted, exhilarated, nervous and relaxed, which is saying a lot. Going into this, I imagined I would only be scared silly.
I've waited five years to cross this strait in a Viking knarr, I can certainly wait another day or two. Oddly, I almost don't want to get there. I want this time and feeling to linger on forever. This crossing
is/was our test. Simply by coming back here and trying again after last year's failed attempt, we have already succeeded in many ways.
I think we are the luckiest fake Vikings in the world.
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