Finish Day + 9
Locations: UK (Adrian), Copenhagen (Devon), Canada (Derek)

A week after finishing and we are now scattered around the World resting and recuperating, sleeping in proper beds and using real toilets again.

What are our final thoughts on the expedition for this site? Here are some words from all of us:

Devon:
“This was the trip that wouldn’t give up. Right to the end we had to work making decisions, the right decision was our only option. Because the finish was not easy, it made the whole expedition that much more special. Finishing was a highlight, over-shadowed by being so tired. Now, after some time to rest and reflect, I realize I wouldn’t want it any easier (or harder), or any other way. Thanks to the team, both individual and support and big thanks to Greenland”.

Derek:
“Like sailors on a frozen ocean, this journey we lived by the wind. In reflection this expedition was really two separate trips. One from the Atlantic to Arctic Oceans (Narsaq to JP Kocks Fjord); the other the 800 kms back down to Qaanaq. The first leg was luxurious in comparison, long down-winders, good snow, a kiter’s dream! The second headwinds, endless tacks, dangerous terrain, a kiter’s nightmare. But it is through those challenges that my greatest memories were forged. In the end I am proud of our accomplishment as a team and extremely grateful to our team of supporters, friends and families that made this expedition successful. Thank you all for following this adventure”

Adrian
“I expected this trip to be different than other polar journeys, but never thought it would be quite so different, Though we had our fair share of hauling sleds, the overall easier physical challenge of moving by kites was countered by the large degree of large challenges involved in travelling such a vast distance by them. Challenges (and a distance) that required a great deal of thinking and strategizing to overcome. And though we occasionally got it wrong, it was the choosing and successfully executing of the right option on most days that was the one of the most rewarding aspects of this expedition. The second was the awesome scenery of the mountains and ice caps of northern Greenland. And the third was hopefully making a vast number of people far more aware of sustainability and One Planet Living. Far from ending with this expedition, this is only the start………..”

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am and is filed under Quest for Greenland. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.