Baffin Babes

Tromsø 22.06.2009

The absolute hardest part during the whole expedition was to get on the plane in Pond Inlet and leave the north two and a half weeks ago. My body was aching because I was so sad. It was like a ball of pain was building up inside my wanting to get out. I wanted to scream, but because I was in a plane I had to behave. Instead silent tears were running down my face. I put on my sunglasses, pretending that no one could see me and I could be alone with my thoughts. This was the absolute end of the adventure and the freedom of beeing outside for such a long time. This was good bye to the nature, to Pond Inlet, to the floe egde and to all the fantastic, warm and friendly people we met on our way. I'm sure about one thing: I'll be back! Hopefully as a teacher.

Hunters waiting for seal and narwhale.

We landed in Oslo airport Gardermoen two weeks ago. The first week back home was terrible. I suffered from jet lag, too little sleep and civilization shock. We had to work on our film project, so every morning I had to get inside a crowded train to Drammen. People was stressed and no one was smiling. Did I come back for this? I forced myself to think about the good things. I was going to pick up my dog, I was going to Lofoten and meet good friends and I was going to meet my family. But it was so much easier to think about Baffin Island every time I didn't concentrate on Baffin Babes related work. My toughts were flying to Pond Inlet and the floe edge all the time. The two days we had there with James, Jimmy, Don, David, Jason and the others were some of the best days of my life. Thank you guys! It was magic! The light, the ice, the polar bear, the narwhales, the birds, the swim in the sea and the people. Everything was perfect. Just perfect! It was the best end of an amazing expedition.

Emma and Kristin, tired but happy

It's now three weeks since we had our last days on skis and we are in some ways back to normal. We are again in front of the computers working with expedition stuff. There are lots of things that should be done after a long trip like this. Pictures, speeches, articles and our two new, big projects: Book and film from «The Baffin Babes ? 80 days in the arctic». More information will be given on our homepage during this year.

Vera is guiding in Svalbard, Emma is enjoying her hometown Härnösand and Kristin is visiting friends and family in Drammen/Oslo. I'm sitting in the sun outside «my» cabin in Tromsø with my dog, Imiaq, next to me in the gras.Tomorrow we will go to Lofoten where nice hikes, quality climbs, good friends and work are waiting. Soon Emma and Kristin will be there too. Even though I miss Baffin Island like crazy, it 's good to be back home as well.

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