2004-08-18 - Getting closer to civilization
15 Aug, 04
Camp next to a stream at N 62°02´35.4 E 150°12´09.4, another extremely hot day, 29 km;s advanced, light southerly wind.
We feel run down at the moment. The combination of time pressure, hard paddling and a blazing sun has knackered us thoroughly.
We´ve pitched our cot on a little sandbank, a kilometer south of the Kolyma River, in a spectacular gorge, surrounded by steep mountainwalls, at a fast stream. We´ve placed our fishing net a few hundred yards from here, in the hope of catching something for tomorrow, since we will be stuck here for another day. We have received notice from our contacts in Moscow and Magadan, that we will not be able to pass the dam until Monday. This bureaucracy is forcing us to eat from our backup food, which we need later for sure, so we need to catch enough fish to survive tomorrow. We know, to our big surprise, that we´ll be able to stock up on some good Russian food at the Sinegorye Dam.
We ran into our first Siberian for two weeks today. He passed us in a towing boat and asked us if we wanted a lift! Nice fella, but we said no, of course! I wanted to tell you about the time limit we´re living under, but I am too knackered and Johan wants to sleep. I´ll do it tomorrow.
The surrounding mountains are making it impossible to send you an illustration photo today. |
