At the end of September, my grandfather and I decided to go down to Marseille. My grandfather has some memories of the city, since he did his military service and has family from Marseille. We'll be there for 3 days. We visited the city, some quirky places and then the southern part of the 8th arrondissement, which was much more natural and wild.
Freed to Catch Something
by a wandering wonderer
Master's field
In the Canadian Arctic
August 2015
Back on board the MV Arctic for our final sampling campaign. I couldn’t wait to get back out there, to reconnect with that sense of freedom and adventure. It was pretty wild to experience that—boarding a commercial vessel and crossing the Labrador Sea to reach the Quebec Arctic. I was thrilled.
August 15, 2015 - On the misty St. Lawrence
As we wait to reach the cold region, we’re sailing on the St. Lawrence today, enjoying this misty yet beautiful morning view.
August 16, 2015 - Life on the Boat
As I explained earlier, our sampling schedule is organized around specific sections of the route, which leaves us with days that are less intense in terms of work. We take advantage of this to update our data, but it also gives me time to photograph as much as possible of what I see and observe. We also participate in fire evacuation drills. We then stay in the wheelhouse, listening to the captain’s instructions and waiting for the rest of the crew to test the equipment, particularly the water hoses (for fires, but I believe also in case of a pirate attack; the hoses help prevent intruders from boarding the ship as much as possible…).
As for the weather, it’s mixed, a bit gray, and the ship’s wake turns the sea water a dark turquoise. I love it.
August 17, 2015 - Tour of the engine room
The next day, we’re taken on a tour of the engine room. It’s a deafening place, but very interesting and enormous. The door leading to the lower deck is right across from my cabin door. I finally get to see what’s hidden in there.
The sky finally clears with a sunset that promises beautiful weather for the next day.
August 19, 2015 - On the Water and the Northern Lights
Today, August 19, is pretty quiet. I have a few photos of the Labrador Sea stretching as far as the eye can see (the coast isn’t far away), and some humorous signs with rules to follow that are posted in the dining room. I think they’re really well done.
We also get to see the Northern Lights that night. The photo is terrible, but my eyes witnessed something magnificent. Out in the middle of the Labrador Sea, on a boat, the sky is bathed in emerald green. MAGICAL.
August 20, 2015 - Nice weather here, a happy day
It’s a beautiful day today, so I’m taking pictures of everything and anything. Anyway, I’m stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere, so I might as well make the most of it.
The day ends with a bright and soothing sunset
August 22, 2015 - Arrival at Deception Bay
We arrive at Deception Bay. The car that’s supposed to take us to the Raglan Mine hasn’t arrived yet, which gives my colleague Pascal and me some time to explore the area a bit. We’ve been here before, but we’re happy to set foot on land and revisit the place.
The next few days will be spent at the mining complex. We’ll have the chance to tour one of the mines, which is incredible. I never thought I’d get to visit a place like this one day. We even got to see where the metals are extracted. I won’t post any photos here; I’m not sure if I’m even allowed to, so just to be safe, I won’t post anything.
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That was the last time we went to that mining complex—at least by boat—though I didn’t know it at the time, but in January 2016 I would be able to go back. But I’ll tell you about that in the next episode…