What a gorgeous day it was! My friend Nancy called me with the simple question "Do you want an adventure today?". I love friends who know you enough to be able to speak your language, not literally English, but figuratively, as in, they know how to ask a simple question in a way that you will not be able to respond with a passionate answer. So, clearly I went, who says no to an adventure?
An adventure it was. Everything has been melting down, so even finding a route out of town that did not include crossing a lake was a challenge, the normal two minute ride to the top of the water station hill, took about 7 or 8. Most of the route was easy until we got to Ujarasutjulik where two of the skidoos were stuck at a narrow pass in slush. Nancy had a tow rope along, so they strapped it onto the back of my skidoo and we pulled them out. From there, we had many more adventures in slush and water, as we passed a section of the Koroc River that was open, fast flowing rapids. It was fun, but the adrenaline was overshadowing any fear that you could feel. I was lucky because I know my skidoo has a lot of "guts" and I also wasn't towing a wooden qamoutik, which acts like a complete "drag"(sorry for the pun) when you encounter a slush or water party.
I was most impressed by the older ladies that we travelled with. I don't know their exact ages but they are easily 60 (if not over). They are tough though, they've been camping and hunting and fishing for longer than my mother has been around and talk about spry. I watched as they climbed all over the rocks where we had our fire and tea, collected firewood from in the deep snow, broke down trees to help the skidoos that were drowning in the metre deep water, no mobility troubles there I'll tell ya!! I was very tossed up when choosing a photo of the day, I will include one of these ladies, the strong women of Kangiqsualujjuaq, however, I finally chose Yayi as my subject since he was the only brave man to accompany all of us ladies.
I've know Yayi from my first year in GR. He actually built me my first qamoutik as a Christmas present from his family. It was still travelled with me on all of my camping trips since. He is a fun loving kind of guy. Loves his kids to pieces. Loves sports and trying new ones like snowboarding. He's got a good sense of humour and is a talented artist as well. I caught him drilling his 14th hole of the first hours that we were at Koroc yesterday, did I mention he is a very helpful guy!
Theme song of Today: The Icicle Melts by The Cranberries
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