Anything else?
A few final tasks before leaving Iceland for Greenland - gathered wild rhubarb to go with our daily porridge, and setting up a line at the bow to secure out tethers to.
Posts
Diego
Not a single washing machine available to the public in the touristy town of Seydisfjordus, Iceland. Just epic scenery all around. Diego needed to get his laundry done and also get a winter sleeping bag. He and I hitchhiked to the nearest town Egilsstaðir. We got a ride within 2 mins of holding up a sign and sticking out our thumb. We went to a campsite which couldn't help Diego with an abandoned sleeping bag but we were able to get our laundry done. Diego went to a nearby store to buy a brand new sleeping bag. However, within 15 mins he found out that he has to return to Spain ASAP because of a family emergency. Fortunately there was enough time to get a refund before the shop closes for the weekend. In life, you just never know what's around the corner. This is the end of the road for Diego, this time. He and I only met 4 days ago and I know we'll be friends for the rest of our lives. We had a blast hitchhiking along the road which featured in the epic skateboarding scen...
The Yellow House
The crew for the Greenland leg assembled in Djúpivogur, Iceland. The village has the title of being the only "Cittaslow" village in Iceland. This means that the residents buy local produce as much as possible, live a slow pace of life and in the moment. Our favourite building in Djúpivogur was the yellow house at the top of the hill from where where Teddy moored. We visited it at least a half a dozen times a day, and for some, it may be more than a dozen times a day, depending on if we were successful in carrying out our critical mission each day. This is Diego, jumping with hope that he'll be successful on this visit to the yellow house. Unfortunately, he will have to pay future visits every half hour because we're due to sail north tonight. The yellow house has a big sign "WC".
Crew for Greenland
Diego arrived the 5th. Josh & Hue on the 7th, long flights from New Zealand via Vancouver, BC. Jon took Diego and me in his truck to Hofn to pick them up. We four had sailed together in 2019. A great group. Over the years since we often commented on how nice it would be to do it again, same group. But I had no expectations of that happening. Amazing! L - R: Josh Scarrow, Jon Karlsson, me, Diego Lopez. Shot by Hue Tran. Josh brought a new toilet pump (pictured) for me all the way from New Zealand. My old pumps are black. Here we are wondering why they changed it to white. Josh, of North Island, New Zealand, 36 is a contamination & hazardous waste specialist. Before, he was a microbiologist specializing in Antarctic bacteria. He has spent around 6 months in the field in the Antarctic, collecting samples. He has the best sailing instincts of anyone I ever met. I would not hesitate to sail under him as skipper. Jon is not coming. A retired lifelong fis...
To Iceland
The crossing was straightforward. Winds mostly F4 to 6, touching F7 at one point. Seas were rougher than usual. Much of it was following winds. 4 days from the Isle of Lewis to Djupivogur. A lot of bird life, including the skua (bonxie) and the Arctic skua (jaeger). At sea. Double reefed main, staysail & working jib. Pic: Paul First sight of land Pic - Paul It being midnight, the time this pic was taken, we hove to 25 miles off the coast and slept for a few hours. ...