Big News: on the TV and on the road!

Graeme will tell you he is not known for his patience but wow has he been patient the past two weeks … and two days … and counting. Every morning he pores over the latest ice charts and weather reports, researching if we can possibly head north for the next leg of our journey. Every few days he tells us it might (finally!) be time. Maybe Tuesday. Maybe Thursday. Maybe Saturday. But then more information comes in, the ice up near Barrow persists, and the experts tell us: Leaving too early is a common mistake. Ugh. We don’t want to get stuck in the ice. And so Graeme and the rest of us crew pull out our patience again.

Of course, with kids aboard, the waiting game is a lot more fun. We’ve made good friends here who have taken us on adventures and shared their homes (and food and showers and vehicles and laundry facilities) with us. We will be sad to say goodbye. Especially when it’s sunny summer in the 70s here. We floated down a river the other day on paddle boards and kayaks. Sheesh.

Even though we’ve been wearing shorts here in Nome, the ice between Barrow and Herschel Island has been slow to clear this year. And there’s not great protection—no bomber hidey-hole to wait out a storm—from Teller (a day north of Nome) until we get to Herschel Island. From Nome to Barrow is almost 600 miles, then on to Herschel is, roughly speaking, another 400 miles. Between here and there, if the weather is benign, there are places we’d like to swing by and check out for the landscape, the walruses, the town (depending on the place) and maybe even drop the hook for a day or a night. Possible points of interest are Point Clarence (Teller), Shishmaref, Little Diamede Island, Point Hope, Barrow, and Cross Island. We’ll see how it goes!

The other complicating factor is that our keel is 9.5 feet long, which means we can’t get into a lot of little spots other boats can. And if the ice decides to move back near shore, which sometimes it does, the passable gap closes to only boats that don’t draw very much. And of course the gap can also close completely even for those boats. So that’s why we’re playing the waiting game.

But this morning we really think there’s a chance we can go. So Graeme’s consulting the oracle while I write this post. In the meantime, check out this great news coverage of sailboats in the Northwest Passage featuring none other than Dogbark:

Really nice of KTUU to interview us!

So now Graeme’s back with the ice news …

And he says …

WE’RE GOING!

So don’t expect much news from us here for the next month or so, but you can definitely follow our tracker. And send us well wishes, prayers, good thoughts, juju, blessings, mojo, everything you got. We’ll soak it all in and report back.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to the ice we go!

9 Replies to “Big News: on the TV and on the road!”

  1. Hi all,
    We’ve been following your blogs with interest. As you prepare to leave Nome, sending all good thoughts to you for a safe passage.
    Warmly, Mimi and Gary Marx. B.I.

  2. Richard Flanders says: Reply

    May the wind be at your back and the sunshine on your face!!

    I’ve been a big fan ever since I read Motion of the Ocean. (I’m the one married to a Janna with two n’s.)

    Sending prayers and blessings, some ju ju and a little mojo too.

    Safe travels!
    Richard in Colorado

  3. Ok DOGBARK!! I see you on the big screen making your debut! All Famous!!! Oooowwww!!!!
    ??????

    Gosh!! I am sooo excited for you all. This is so amazing, seriously! I look forward to hearing from you all again. I enjoyed watching the news coverage (I was smiling from ear-to-ear like a Justin Bieber fan- don’t judge me ?)!!!
    Like “look at my teacher” “she’s famous” “I know her” (just embarrassing right? I digress.

    This adventure is like no other and I will be tracking your progress throughout the next month or so. I love you all and tell Graeme to bring me back a pet baby seal ?… no seriously! How cool would that be? I’d get kicked off base ?

    Well, bye bye all. I love you all. Take care ???

    1. Point Hope!! I had a feeling you all would stop there?.. Tracking the journey is intriguing and addictive. Have fun!! ?

  4. Great news story…great to see all your smiling faces…we miss you down south…have a great time and be safe…we think of you daily…hugs Renee’

  5. Cool news clip. Eat lots of salmon, stay fat and happy. Good luck y’all.

  6. Hello from Point Hope, Ak. Nice looking sailboat!!!

  7. Good luck and safe passage you guys. We are following with interest.
    Derick and Barb
    SV Stray Cat

  8. Matthew Branch says: Reply

    Hey there SV Dogbark, it was nice meeting you guys at Cross yesterday. I will be following your progress and look forward to hearing if you get to see some polar bears. Meeting you guys is an experience I will never forget and a story that I am excited to tell my kiddos about.
    Sending my well wishes for safe passage and an amazing adventure.

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