Pre-departure preparations: last day in Tasilaq

Last day in Tasilaq

Today is our last day in Tasilaq, if all goes according to plan. We have noticed that we are beginning to feel a little restless, because we have basically done everything we can do. We practiced crevasse rescue and went over our materials. Yesterday we even took a leisurely walk towards the Bloemendal, behind Tasilaq. We took our rifle and shot outside the village, about 2 kilometers away. It was a beautiful day and everything worked properly. We also tried the flare, which also went well. Now it’s basically twiddling thumbs and waiting for tomorrow.

Pre-departure preparations

On this Sunday the stores are closed, but there is still a local store open where we can buy some eggs, flour and milk. In fact, tonight there is a delicious pancake meal on the menu, which we are looking forward to. Tomorrow morning we have a tight schedule. We will have breakfast at 7 and hopefully with a view of the arriving boat. According to the harbor master, we may pick up our luggage at 9 o’clock. We will be there by 8:30, but we know that everything in Greenland depends on several factors, especially the weather. Things can move slowly. We have already booked a boat towards the ice cap, but it only leaves between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. In the meantime, we will pack our personal belongings, fill the thermos with hot water and prepare the tents. We have the tent cloths on the pallet, but we have the tent poles here. We will put them together and pitch the tent one more time so everyone will have it fresh in their minds again. We will also bring water for the first night on the ice sheet, so we don’t have to melt snow right away. In addition, we will make some sandwiches for lunch. Then we will embark on the motorboat that will take us to the fjord in Istertoq. But we haven’t reached that point yet.

Enjoying the view

Right now I am sitting outside on a large rock overlooking a fjord. In the fjord, a dozen icebergs drift by, slow and serene. The sun is shining on my back and the weather here is hearty. I am looking forward to tomorrow, when we will make the first meters on the ice. Hopefully then I can share the next update from the ice at Istertoq via satellite phone.

Conclusion

With the last day in Tasilaq behind us, we prepare for departure. We did everything we could do and now it is waiting for tomorrow. Weather and other factors in Greenland may cause things to go slower than planned, but we are optimistic. We packed our personal belongings, prepared the tents and brought water for the first night on the ice cap. We are ready to board the motorboat that will take us to the fjord in Istertoq. But for now, we enjoy the beautiful view of the fjord and the icebergs slowly drifting by. Tomorrow we will finally take our first steps on the ice and hopefully I will be able to share an update from the ice at Istertoq.

🗺️ Our live position on Greenland.
📢 Read all previous posts.

Sign up for the Expedition Newsflash.

During the expedition, receive alerts of new blogs in your mail.
[mc4wp_form id=”4505″]