Amanda and I again got up at around 4:30 to wait for the rosette for our second round of water sampling for mercury. Another sleepless night for many scientists. SOB disembarked with CFL photographer, Doug Barber, and composer, Vincent Ho, at Sachs Harbour. Chief Scientist, Gary Stern, and 3 scientists, Sylvia Gremes Cordero, Cristina Romera, and I were honoured to be invited to a community feast at Sachs Harbour. For the first time in our lives, we tried a dried muscox and fish salad which was delicious. The feast also include amazing cranberry scones, muscox stew, braised Arctic char, fillet of trout, stew of geese and geese eggs, ham, turkey and salad. We took takeout for the scientists that did not manage to go to the feast. Sachs Harbour is a close-knit community of 120 residents. The people were most hospitable and friendly. The town was amazingly pretty in the rain. Despite the horrific weather (rainy, foggy and cold), everyone had a wonderful time before SOB and the scientists bid goodbye at the airport.
Due to the weather, we again did not managed to send out a zodiac for the surface water sample. Wind was as high as 25 knots and waves splashed on the windows of the dining room and the decks. I changed two air samples on the front deck, trying to tuck the sampling heads as close to my body as possible in fear that they may go overboard.
Muscox Salad with dried fish and herb
Sylvia Gremes Cordero and me at Sachs Harbour
Arrival lounge at Sachs Harbour Airport: (from left, Vincent Ho, Robin Gislason, Sylvia Gremes Cordero)
Town of Sachs Harbour from airport