Today, we were woken by the telephone: Good news! Ken Borek, our airlift operator, said we are GO for departure.

Next thing, everything went down the tubes: We jumped in the vehicle designated to take us to the airport, and set off; 200 meters down the road the car broke down. Whether this was due to an empty fuel tank or an empty oil sump, or both, is beside the point… Murphy's Law was at work (maybe Murphy was a Canadian?).

It took only 10 minutes of frantic phone calls and running about to mobilize replacement transport: a flatbed truck belonging to the Resolute Base Manager, Wayne. We traveled the 5 kms to the airport on the open flatbed. The air was a brisk – 35 C!  It proved to be a reality test-bed for our specially-designed cloths: They actually work!

A journey beginning so badly can only end well. We took off on schedule, in 2 Twin-Otter light aircraft. After a 2-hour flight, we landed in Eureka for a scheduled fuel stop: 2000 liters of aircraft fuel. While the planes were being fueled, we took a stroll to inspect the local herd of Musk Ox.

After a second flight of 2 hours we could see Ward Hunt Island laid out below us. Compared to what we are used to, the landing seemed bumpy; but our Pilots said it was perfectly normal. Outside, the temperature was – 44 C. We offloaded the sledges, and the 2 aircraft took off for the return flight to Resolute. Then, without ceremony, we put on our skis, adjusted our pulkha harnesses, and off we went. We are on schedule. Our spirits are high; after years of preparation we are at last on our way.

And all is well with the Expedition.