The last provisioning is completed and we are almost ready to depart! The coast is clear all the way to Hershel island but the north coast of Alaska is still blocked with pack ice. We have set the departure to tomorrow evening in order to time the shallows of Kitty at the entrance of the river with high tide. Seabelle has spent almost 10 months in Inuvik, in the safe hands of Northwinds and Gruben. Saying goodbye to Kurt and Floyd at the office, brought a sense of reality that departure is indeed imminent. We have been blessed with this amazing improvised setup for Seabelle and we are eternally grateful to the people who made possible. With sincere humbleness, this is a indebted shoutout to Floyd, who made the connection with Kurt in fall and was instrumental in getting things moving when we felt stuck in Tuk, to Kurt, the big boss and founder of Northwind without whom kind heart, none of it would have been possible. His hands on tireless energy and self less generosity are truly inspiring as a recipe for success. And of course, Willie – our go-to man and kindest soul, making everything possible and effortless. The use of his truck proved beyond helpful for provisioning and getting gaz. There has been many other helpers here, special mention needs to be made to locals Doug and Clinton for giving Calin his much loved social life.
Last week, we eagerly collected the 3rd member of Team Seabelle, Francis from New Zealand. With some degre of sailing experience and a liking for polar travel, he is mad enough to join our adventure until Nome, Alaska, giving us a welcoming hand for the long passage through the ice and down the Bering Strait.