BlueGerbil
C´est le gerbil plus bleu
December 29, 2009-January 03, 2010: We hit the road
At best weather which is supposed to last for another three days, at temperatures around -15°C and almost still air, we left Egvekinot, the city which welcomed us so nicely in all aspects and where we found many friends.
We just had some exhausting days.
At the day of our arrival (Dec. 29, 2009) we brought the vehicles from the “cold storage area” to the garage and continued to work on the vehicles every day almost around the clock – there has only been a break for our new year’s celebration – in order to finish the last remaining repairs and the new twin-tire-system. It has been the first test for the new team – passed with flying colors.
After leaving Egvekinot and crossing the bay on its straight path (thickness of the ice about 50cm), we are now on a headland which we are trying to pass since yesterday. Our goal is to reach the second bay at about N 66 12’024” / W 178 43’578” and cross this one as well- Yesterday we drove a total of 35 km.
We almost lost the F1 as I suddenly noticed a burnt smell. I stopped, thinking that something might be laying on my floor, which gets very hot at one special spot. But that wasn’t the case. Meanwhile Jefgeny left the vehicle on the passenger side to take a picture of the beautiful landscape, when he suddenly starts screaming: Fire, fire, fire! Flames were blazing underneath the car. Quickly we recognized that one of the engine covers was burning. Due to the fact that the cover was tied, we were not able to unfasten it quickly. Hectically Jefgeny and Victor threw snow under the vehicle while I tried to cut off the burning fabric.
Together with Wolfgang and Rudi, after a few minutes we extinguished the fire and removed the fabric. Only because we were very lucky, the overlap of the flames to the engine compartment could be avoided.
There has been almost no damage at the vehicle. We continued our journey after a big gulp of Vodka against the shock, thankful for the benevolence of the “place’s spirit”.
Until late at night we fought our way through the snow-covered tundra, pulled and winched us forwards.
Currently we are at N 66 11’642” / W 178 46’473” – everything is okay. We wait until the morning in order to cross the big bay at daylight. A difficult task.
January 04, 2010: 61st short message (00:26 a.m. CET)
9 a.m. Took off after a cup of coffee and a bread. First difficult obstacle: a riverbed with lots of snow. After about one hour of shoveling successfully crossed. Are 1km away from the bay.
Wind gets stronger. First light snowfall. Met two Chukots from Konergina who are on their way to Egvekinot via Skidoo. Their sled dog sitting on the Skidoo. Nice picture.
January 04, 2010: 62nd short message (01:38 a.m. CET)
12 p.m. Reached bay and managed entrance. F1 with both axles in the water. Pulled F1-trailer difficultly trough water-flooded tracks.
F2 made new tracks without any problems.
Following progress 2x through water-flooded tracks. Are currently 1km on bay-ice. Overall bay width 12km.
January 04, 2010: 63rd short message (03:55 p.m. CET)
1.30p.m. Reached the middle of the bay.
2 p.m. Reached other bank. Exit easier than entrance. Only cracks but no water. Yippie yeah.
2.30 p.m. Raised the tire’s air pressure from 0.3/0.4 to 0.6. Are currently driving – after getting over a small headland – on ice along the shoreline. Air-line distance to Konergina about 60km. Speed about 3-10 km/h. Increasing snowfall; wind about 5 Bft.
Current position: N 66 07’785” / W 178 30’560”
January 04, 2010: 64th short message (12:55 p.m. CET)
10.30 p.m. 6km away from Konergina track bar adapter on the front of F2 broke.
Steering virtually impossible. Made emergency repairs with straps and try to continue driving slowly. Tomorrow we have to weld.
Will spend the night 1.5km from Konergina and drive into the settlement tomorrow morning. A though piece of work until now. But the team is doing fine. Everything okay.
Current position: N 65 55‘363“ / W 178 48‘886“
January 05, 2010:
We woke up on a reindeer farm which served our vehicles as a place to stay for the night. Actually it’s more a place for the last hours of those beautiful animals, because here they are processed into food. At the crack of dawn, hundreds of antlers and others testified this. We detached the trailers and drove into the village. Right away crowds of people were gathering around us, children were running around and we were welcomed heartily. People from Konergina: Very very hospitable. A welder was organized. This was an opportunity for us to fill up the tanks from the barrels that we had with us. We received and ate raw reindeer meat and celebrated the New Year with a few drinks. After fixing the track bar adapter on F2, and welded and strengthened this same spot on F1, we bought an entire reindeer and got three fishes additionally as a gift. Then we resorted to the school house, in which we were invited to stay for the night. Because meanwhile it was evening again. This was also the time to say goodbye to Alexander and Victor, the Vestichot drivers (who supplied Konergina with all necessities during the winter). Especially for us they had postponed their departure from Egvekinot to Konergina in order to drive with us. Those were three great days with new friends who even shared the very tight passenger compartment of their Vestichot to eat with us.
Tomorrow, when the first beams of light appear, we will leave for the difficult track towards Enmelem. This way we will make use of the maximum period of daylight.
We would like to thank principal Alexander Volodko, the Chief of Administration Alexander Mylnikov and the Chief of Agriculturfarm Vladimir Alexeevich.
January 05, 2010: 65th short message (11 p.m. CET)
At 8 a.m. we started with dream weather and -28°C.
Yesterday, after we bought a reindeer, cut it into smaller pieces and ate parts of it with the people in Konergina, now there are two Chukots accompanying us today. So now we have guests in our little convoy. They want to come along to Neran. There is a big reindeer meeting point.
Our current position after good progress: N 65 51‘479“ / W 178 26‘860“
January 06, 2010: 66th short message (04:27 a.m. CET)
It is 3 p.m. and the team gets on well. We did 60km in 7 hours. There is an icy wind with strong flurries at about -28°C and no snowfall. The team is doing great and everything is within the bounds.
The landscape is unbelievable!
Our huge spikes prove themselves again and again. Often we have to cross lakes and wide rivers which are frozen and as smooth as glass, so that you cannot walk on them. It would be great to get out the skates. But thanks to the spikes which are easy to mount, we pull the trailers and rank on the ice without any problems. Brilliant!
January 06, 2010: 67th short message (06:32 a.m. CET)
5 p.m. Wind speed is 8 to 9 with strong flurries.
Our current position is N 65 39‘871“ / W 177 32‘155“
January 06, 2010: 68th short message (00:30 a.m. CET)
6 p.m. Stopped. F1 broke down. Cannot continue our journey without risking further damages. Servo pump (main fan-belt for all units runs over that) is threatened to overheat. Will build windbreak so that we can try a repair at wind speed 8 to 9.
7 p.m. Windbreak is done. Main pressure line of servo pump on swaging is damaged.
11 p.m. Built a 130 bar pressure line from battery brackets, pieces of fuel hose, clamps, wire straps, sawn off pieces of the old line and a big portion of team spirit along with imagination. Engine is running again. Are getting everything back in the vehicles and will leave again in about 30 minutes.
Freaking cold!
January 06, 2010: 69th short message (01:35 p.m. CET)
0.30 a.m. Line didn't last. Team tired, but we try again. Nerve-wracking. ******tty material.
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