Update from Ben, (via an Asus laptop connected to  Fastwave communications technology)

We’re sitting in our tent, litterally in the middle of nowhere, while the wind and the snow blows and blows outside.

We arrived in Rankin inlet yesterday, and waited nervously at the freight terminal for our gear, which was late. Acommodation in Rankin runs about $300
a night, so the non-arrival of our tent and sleeping bag would be very expensive.

It turned up just before ten at night and we made camp on the edge of town. The next morning we had to re-asssemble the sled, which was like putting an Ikea flat pack entertainment unit together outside in -25. Sometimes we do wonder about it all.

The wind picked up nicely, and we took off. It was an immense relief. The terrain was lakes and low rolling hills. The sled performed beautifully.

This part of Canada is called the barrens. It’s the coldest, most windswept place, possibly in all the Americas. It really is tough country. We had a few dramas where our quick release safety shackles on our kites released early , bringing the whole show to a stop. While we sorted it out I looked around and looked forward to getting moving again. It’s a serious place and not somewhere you’d like to get stuck. But then the kite launched again, and off we went. after five hours we covered 45km, which is a nice start, but I know we can do better. We’re off to Baker Lake, the only inland Inuit settlement in the world. Inuit are by and large coastal people, but the Barrens has huge herds of caribou which has suppots a distinct group of Inuit.

About 150km to go. Hope the wind holds out. If not then it’s back to Rankin inlet for us! Wish us luck.

Ben