Volume 11, 1958 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL XI No.3 THZ ARCTIC CIRCULAR 40
Thinking it was the intention to run all night, we hoisted a
hurricane lantern to the mast top when it got dark, and all turned
in and went to sleep. leaving the boat to drift on its own, which
none of us would have thought of doing after some experience of
what rivers are like. When daylight came. our boat was grounded
on a bar at the tip of an island, but was easily pushed off. Then a
few miles below. we were carried sideways on to a succession of
bars just off the main stre2.m o We reluctantly decided to follow
our guideis advice and to lighten the boat by taking some of the
freight over to the be.nk in the dinghy, when suddenly a stiff breeze
sprang up and I had a h3.ppy idea. We had several hundred feet of
3/4-inch manilla "ope 0'1 board, and it occurred to me that. if we
could get a line across the main ch".nnel to the bank, and make it
fast, i.f the boat went ahcad the Tope would haul it round. Fortunately,
when the rope was made fastw the bank and the big square sail was
hoisted, the 00Q.t ~Ient aC:"'03 s the bars '.ike a scared cat and into
the channel, and we vlerc ,:eady to go on our way.
We next came to the Grand Rapids. Thes e rapids are
too dangerous, if not impossible, to run. so boats are rowed
across to Grand Island, w:,ich lies paranel to the rapids. and is
about a ITlile and a ;,a1£ long, Hcre boats