We were fogged in this morning so we couldn't fly. I had scrambled to pack my bags, tear down the wet tent, roll up the sleeping pad (I was sad to see my platform of comfort go), and then the bags just sat there. That's OK, it gave Ian and I a chance to go up on the hill one last time to say goodbye to the crew.
Because we had a flight delay due to fog this morning, Ian and I had the chance to go up to the dig site and say goodbye one last time to the team. Ines from Germany had taken over my little corner of the excavation at the bottom left. After days of sunshine, they were back to the warm clothes we started in 10 days ago.
Ines had taken over my little corner - Unit 8. She was burrowing down in the southwest quadrant and had a big smile as always. Craig, the public affairs guy, had put away his camera and was screening soil for the diggers. No major discoveries so far this morning but the team toils on. We wished them well and headed back to camp.
Every leaf was green when we arrived 10 days ago and in our short stay they have started to change to the reds and yellows of fall. Summer is coming to a close!
On the way down I noticed that the leaves on the brush had already started to turn red. Just in the 10 days I was in camp we saw the fall colors start to arrive. I bet it's beautiful here in September when the fish turn fire-engine red to match the foliage! Down at the gravel bar the helicopter still sat silent in the haunting fog. I wondered about the beast which lurked beyond - bears, musk ox, caribou and more.
Grounded due to limited visibility, our helicopter sits waiting for the sun to come out.
I stopped to skip the last few rocks on that perfect, still mirror of a pond. Looking into the clear water, I could see among the green coated rocks at the bottom several gray ones - all flat and round - surely stones I had skipped throughout the expedition. Some I could reach and gave them another ride across the surface. You may not believe this, but I think I set a new personal record for most skips. I lost count around 14 or 15. It can be a little hard to count the tiny skips at the end of a stone's glide across the water. I had no independent verification, but I know it was a blissful toss.
Another fine time to skip some rocks. Life is too short not to stop and skip some rocks every once in a while, especially when conditions are as optimal as this.
Back in camp, Ian and I made sandwiches for the trip home and then Bill taught me some of the steps from his martial arts warm-up - 18 Lohan. After doing that you feel invigorated. I think he should lead everyone in doing those exercises each morning!
Bill, left, and pilot Stan discuss the flying conditions the morning of our departure. They decided we should wait until the fog lifted before flying.