Log Entry: Friday, June 18th, 1999

Blue Mouse Cove to Russell Island: 21.9 nm

First encounter with icebergs.

We were going to go up Tarr Inlet, but turned back because there was too much ice in the water.  Anchored early, got a chance to warm up and relax.

As we anchored, the sun came out, so did Ching, and off came a few layers of clothing.

Normally, I’m wearing fleece long johns, and three layers under my fleece jacket, all covered over by raincoat, slickers, ExtraTuffs (fleece-lined!), fleece-lined hat with ear-flaps which come down and Velcro together under my chin. It all sounds toasty, but it just barely keeps me warm.

I’m still looking for gloves which will allow me to work in wet weather and keep me warm at the same time: I have a couple of sets of bright orange waterproof gloves, but the trouble is that the minute it rains (which is most minutes) water just flows into the gloves at the wrist.  Tuck them into my sleeves, you say?   that's OK for the first glove, but these are thick monsters, and the second glove is a real ordeal.  And once these gloves are wet inside, it takes about three months to dry them ...

Jane's log:

"After fishing in Blue Mouse Cove (no luck!) while we waited for the tide to change, we headed up to Tarr Inlet.  The ice was thick outside Johns Hopkins, and Reid Glacier looked incredibly blue as we passed by.  The ice cleared up briefly as we rounded Russell Island, only to become too thick for our comfort about a third of the way up Tarr.  We decided to try again tomorrow in an ebbing tide, and headed down to anchor behind Russell Island.  We did catch a glimpse of Margerie Glacier as we headed down Russell Passage.

"Spotted and watched some oyster catchers on the rocks off Russell as we fished and read.

"A beached black iceberg looked pretty scary as it came into view when the tide went out.

"We got that feeling of being such a small part of the big picture again ..."