A different life

I have been able to have some good times with Darren McCartney, the suffragan bishop of the Arctic, who I had known when he was in Carrickfergus.  He had recently bought a boat which we managed to get out in among the icebergs.  Normally as bishop he has to fly to each remote community but he is having a boat specially built that will enable him to sail around the communities when the sea is free of ice from August to October.  

Then today I helped him paint the outside of his house.  Not too many bishops I know would do that. It is a still a pioneering kind of place here where you just muck in to do whatever needs done.

Darren's boat and 4x4 truck, a different kind of life from other bishops.

Among the icebergs

The sea-lift ship waiting for the ice to clear.  Among other things you can see new cars being delivered.

Due to the cold water we needed to wear survival suits.  There is no harbour her so containers are craned onto a barge which is landed on the beach and its cargo removed. 

Canadian Coastguard ice-breaker.  On the left is a rifle in its cover just in case we meet a polar bear.  Polar bears can swim for 18 hours non-stop so are a real danger among the ice-flows and they are hungry at this time of year.

We took a break in this beautiful inlet.  A cup of tea, some fig rolls and  midday prayers.