A blank page waves from a single flag pole propped in the vast subcortical network of my mental workspace. When I zero in on it, a hint of color leaches through, teasing me with thoughts of surrendering to the barrage of images suddenly cascading from above. But I’m not ready to abandon the hunt in the recesses of my brain for that perfect sparkling idea on how to proceed with sharing my recent experience in the arctic. Sure, a picture is worth a thousand words, but I’m not inclined to yield to that cliché just yet.
In answer to my pure stubbornness, another flag flaps from the middle of the mêlée and suggests that I jump the timeline and skip ahead to the day of our departure on the sleds.
But it doesn’t feel right to leave out the part when, the day before, Mette kindly lends me the sealskin jacket that she made for herself
because my 4’11” (149 cm) frame is swimming in the smallest snowsuit in the rental shop, regardless of the many layers of clothing I’m wearing underneath. Even a pre-homo-erectus Donna with an especially elongated torso and knuckles that scrape the ground when she attempts to walk upright would have a hard time filling out its arms and legs.
I’m also not ready yet to describe what it was like to take a spill off the sled, roll away from it like a tumbleweed in a stiff wind, and struggle to my feet in an attempt to outmaneuver the pack of dogs charging from behind
only to incite a 24-pooch-pile-up that took the masterful finesse and nimble dexterity of our hunters a mere few minutes to untangle.
In my defense though, it’s not easy to spring to your feet when you’re packed tighter than a super burrito from your favorite taco truck on the I-5.
With a bit of repositioning and Sabine volunteering to be my safety bar, I managed to get comfortable with the likelihood of avoiding another tumble and tangle.
If I jump ahead a day, I’d also have to leave out the marvelous meal we had at Magnus’ and Andrea’s house. Magnus’ warm hospitality and Andrea’s phenomenal plat du jour would be stiff competition for any restaurant in Ittoqqortoormiit if it had one. The vegetarians among us flipped over her arctic char and the carnivores in our lively band of adventurers left little room for dessert after several helpings of her outrageous roast umimmar. I’ve been a huge musk ox fan ever since my first visit to Greenland in 2009, but after this evening filled with splendiferous storytelling and fine food, I might have to make a visit to Ittoqqortoormiit much more often just to eat.
Well…now that I’ve managed to hit the highlights of what would have been left out had I skipped to the morning of our departure, I’ll continue with our arrival at Kap Swainson, the first overnight on our four-day dogsledding adventure.
Once the dogs were settled
and fed,
the water set to boil for tea, and the tents pitched for the brave souls among us who volunteered to sleep outdoors since the cabin only had room for six,
everyone hiked up the mountain behind our camp with Esajas.
Since I was still acclimating to getting around in my giant boots,
I stayed behind to watch for polar bears while Albert, Gaba, and Emil
realigned their sites and made repairs to faulty equipment.
After a dinner of sandwiches and boiled puiser,
the seal being somewhat of an acquired taste for most of us,
there was time for a quick lesson in switch snapping
until the shadows grew long
and beckoned one last trek
to the edge of the ice
with enough time to make it back to camp before nightfall,
proving that often a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
Or, as in this case, 691 of them.
Qujanaq for stopping by today ❤
Photo Credit for this post also given in part to Oona, Marianne, and Damian
For previous posts leading up to this day see:
THE CALLING
AMUSE-BOUCHE
ICELANDIC ANTIPASTI
KALAALLIT NUNAAT – A Dream Realized
KALAALLIT NUNAAT – Sound of Silence
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
What an amazingly beautiful experience, thank you so much for sharing :o)
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And thank you for reading and commenting, Xenia!
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sounds and looks beautiful! not that i would go of course. you should print some of those photos and hang them together to feel the peace and beauty in them.
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Well, maybe next time I will be able to talk you into it. Good idea, printing some. I’d just need a little more wall space. Time to move? ❤
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Wow – what a beautiful place! Gorgeous photos! And, that jacket. 🙂
Are the dogs as cute and cuddly as they look? I’ve heard not.
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Thanks Naomi. It was remarkable. The dogs were certainly cute, but you’re right – not cuddly. They’re working dogs, so we were not allowed to make a big deal over them like we would here at home. But occasionally one would give you a loving nose nudge and that’s okay. 🙂
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This is wonderful! I’m having a problem with my WordPress sign-in (changed my login and am too tired to remember it), so will Like it when my memory returns… Have a great time in LA LA Land! XOxo, P
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Thanks Pamela! And don’t worry about it. Just commenting means a lot to me! 🙂
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Absolutely gorgeous photos, Donna!
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Thanks, Lyn!
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Beautiful photos; make me want to see more of your work.
I especially love the overexposed shot of the dogs.
I’ll be following you from now on. Have an amazing day! 🙂
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Thank you Yousuf! And welcome! 🙂
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You’re very welcome, Donna!
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Dear Donna–what an incredible trip–I love your pictures and stories.
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Thanks Annina! It was a fantastic trip for sure 🙂
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Such a beautiful place, thank you for sharing:)
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You are welcome, and thank you for reading 🙂
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Hi. I love the pics of the tour you got. We hope you enjoyed the trip albert gave you.
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Thank you, Tina. There are no words that can say how wonderful the trip was. Albert did a fantastic job! I always felt well taken care of and very safe. Please give him my regards and a warm hug too ❤
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I love the way you are telling this story, and your beautiful pictures! 🙂
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Thank you Ruth! I take that as a huge compliment. Also, please, if you see anything that needs a correction, let me know. Be well ❤
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Aaaaaarrrh … Such an awesome trip and amazing experience!! We want to ravel in your foot steps. 🙂
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Oh, it was. And there’s still much to tell. Thanks for stopping by, Dina, and signing up to tag along for a while 🙂
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