The whirlwind has passed, heading ever eastward. Wendy and Freya drove off yesterday morning with a sleek Solstice GTS and a stunning (very) Special edition NDK Explorer on the racks atop Wendy's trusty Honda CRV.
Remarkably, they hit the Trans-Canada at a few minutes after 8:00 am, after having arrived from picking up Freya at Halifax Int'l Airport just 8 hours earlier. With 5 hours time difference between Husum Germany and tiny New Glasgow Nova Scotia, I can only imagine how weary Freya must be. There was no sign of that yesterday morning though as I tried valiantly to dodge flying paddle gear and avoid running over costly Kevlar, backing out of my yard for the drive to work. The excitement in the air was palpable. How I wish I could have accompanied these two adventurers on what has to be the trip of a lifetime, a 2700+ km circumnavigation of Newfoundland Canada. I must say they made quite a sight at the airport, unpacking and assembling Freya's 3-piece (S)Explorer right there on the concrete walkway outside International Arrivals!
We drew a crowd, with bystanders' expressions ranging from amazement to bewilderment. The Commissionaires (guards) on duty were very good about the mess and congestion, and wanted to know if Freya was; "...waiting for the tide to come in?" One portly blackhat said to me; "I've seen a lot of bicycles put together here, but never a kayak!"
The hour spent listening to Wendy and Freya on the drive home from the airport was fascinating, these two are as different as night and day except perhaps when it comes to capability. I have no doubt whatsoever that Freya will provide great support for Wendy on the Southern coastal leg of this epic journey, nor that Wendy will carry on to complete the odyssey on her own terms, in her own time, safely. As Justine said; YOU GO GIRL.
At the time of this writing, our travelers are probably settling into their tents, hopefully in a sheltered cove with lots of fresh water and firewood. One thing's for sure; they'll have no bugs to contend with given the air temps in Atlantic Canada right now. Cool air notwithstanding, our summer weather is due to arrive two weeks early this year, and the waters are unusually ice-free. Even so, I'll no doubt jump every time the phone rings until I hear for sure that they're ok, being a born worrier.
Their plan was to make the ferry crossing from North Sydney NS to Port-aux-Basques Nfld, do the short drive to Isles aux Morts, rent a cabin where they will leave Wendy's vehicle and set out from there. Hmmm... Isles aux Morts?
For those with Google Earth, please take a look at Newfoundland's coastline near the southeast corner and you'll get an idea of the daunting topography that awaits them. Notice the absence of roads. And people...
But then that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Glenn