9 August 1997

Hello from the Beaufort Sea aboard the MV Arctic Sunrise,

I am a suprised to be writing from the ship as we didn't expect to spend more than a day on board. We came out for meetings, the plans changed, and now here we are. After twenty days out, it's a big transition to go from the freedom of our little island to the confined space of a ship. I am a fairly big guy and since arriving I find myself feeling awkward and in the way. I bang my head on almost everything and quite often lose my way on board. But I must say it is quite nice getting a hot shower and a change of fare at dinner time! I have never spent any time at sea on a ship and so I am greatful for the realatively flat and calm conditions of the Arctic Ocean as they make adjusting to ship life easier. I'm not sure what I would do if we were battling rough seas!

The members of the crew are delightful folks and have bent over backwards to make us feel comfortable and welcome on board. It is a lot of fun getting to meet and know new people from all around the world, quite a number of whom have a great deal of experience sailing with Greenpeace. Hearing stories of previous voyages and campaign actions makes me realize I am working with some of my own heroes which is both a remarkably humbling and powerful feeling. Hard to explain it exactly, but I feel immensely priveleged to be keeping such great company and working on such an important issue as climate change.

The ship cruising is quite beautiful. This year the ice pack has not moved too far off shore so there are a number of ice bergs all around us in the water. They are a wonderful mix of blue and grey and flat white obstacles which seem to slip by the ship as opposed to our pushing through them. Every once in a while we will glance off of one sending a slight shimmer and groan through the body of the boat. Mostly the weather is foggy though it has just lifted and the sun is out. Right now there is a wonderful view of the Eastern most extension of the Brooks Range as it looms over the coast to the South of us.

I don't want to miss any more so I will sign off. Keep your spirits high!

Woody