Here we are Wednesday morning September 11, 2014 and Dai, Pete and I are sailing  Catryn down the coast of Labrador. We departed Nain, Labrador yesterday morning at 05.00 hours after dropping Catherine and Philip off to return home. We wish them both a safe journey via Montreal.

Our present position is 55.41 north, 60.23 west as we make our way southward down the coast of Labrador. We anchored last night at Windy Tickle a very remote inlet where we were able to shelter from the southwest wind. We all enjoyed a fish stew which was helped by a good stock made out of the crab legs that we had for supper the night before tied up at the fishing dock in Nain. All were very friendly towards us in Nain and drove us around in their pick up trucks with our groceries and driving Catherine and Phillip to the airport nearby. We walked around town under a full moon after supper and groups of friendly, energetic, curious teenagers ran up to us engaging us with questions of where we had come from and going. Probably never being exposed to the technological devices that exists to the south of them. It was very refreshing to feel their zest, curiosity and intrigue about the world and life.

Yesterday we weaved our way around  hundreds of islands and ledges staying close to shore to avoid the strong south westerly breezes. Some high peaked rounded hills, grey and black sheer cliffs dropping down to the blue, green, briny sea below. Piney, emerald forests sweeping down to the marbled grey granite, veined with quartz, below. Gulls wheeling around at the tops of the bare cliffs calling raucously  to each other.

We received news from home this morning that the Canadians have discovered one of John Franklin Ships, have not heard which one yet. After a hundred and sixty nine years, harsh icy conditions and countless expedition searches some answers to what might have happened to the two ships.

In my home town of Winona, Minnesota there are two descendants of Francis Crozier who took over the command of the Erebus and Terror after the death of John Franklin in 1847. William Crozier a retired history professor at St Marys University and his son William Crozier Jr, who lives in Rochester, Minnesota.

Jane Franklin along with many of the experts today predicted the ships to be in the south west area of King William Island. Looking forward to finding where the ship was discovered.

Last time I was going to tell you about Henry Hudson but i decided that you can learn about what he did and did not do by opening a history book. I would like to share with you someone who will never make it into a history book.

Paddy Aqiatusuk was born on the east side of Hudson Bay and in 1953 he and his family against their wishes were sent up to Ellesmere Island to establish a community. The government of Canada desperate to claim sovereignty rights in the upper Arctic moved Inuit’s north without sufficient supplies to areas with little to hunt due to the extreme cold. Melaine McGrath in her excellent  book “The Long Exile”  tells the tragic story of Paddy who was a very gifted sculptor,hunter, human being and elder. I just finished reading it and it is very well written.

Today we will be sailing south past Cape Harrison with the help of the Labrador Current leaving Goose Bay and Cartwright on our starboard side headed for the Strait of Belle Isle and the great island of Newfoundland. Should be there in the next three days depending on the weather!

Thanks to you all for your good support, assistance and interest!

From the three of us on board Catryn  we wish you all a “bore da” good morning!Hywel.