Pond Inlet: Beauty upon second sight

Pond Inlet surprises in many ways. Having arrived on Sunday afternoon, we were prepared to wait on the boat for Monday morning for the RCMP, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to do the immigration. But no, as word about our arrival spread, they showed up on the dock on Sunday 16:00.

By tying up to the dock as opposed to anchoring outside, what most yachts do due to the rough dock wall, and then on top of everything unfurling our large red sail to dry it, our arrival was noted by many people. Kids, families in cars, quads show up to greet us. Very different to Greenland. Whereas in Greenland we had the impression of being invisible, here people seem to lust on getting in touch with people from outside. Very openly they share details about their lifes. Whether it is the alcoholic father or the interest in our red sail cloth to make tents. Narwhal and polar bear hunting is a big topic, too. Apparently a way to make some serious money up here. A Narwhal tusk is sought after “in the south”. I ask about fish to eat, whether anybody in town has freshly caught arctic char to sell.

Sure enough, next morning Jason shows up on a quad with arctic char to sell. He explains how he learned on Facebook that we were looking for fish. Interesting! Apparently more information about us has been shared in the town’s facebook group, along with other details of us. We buy 4 fish, 3 for us 1 for Vanuily. The arctic char are wonderful. I start preparing one for lunch, and 2 for the freezer. I cut off the head and the tail and throw them over board. The boys watch me and as they see the fish head flying, they ask whether they could have the eyes. Really? Yes, they really want the eyes. So I carve the eyes out for them of the remaining 2 heads. They devour them with pleasure. You are welcome!

Vanuily arrived during the night and is now tied up alongside to us. We have lunch together. As today is the Civic Holiday, the shop of town is closed. We’ll stay another night, provision and then continue our journey on Tuesday noon.

The not-obviously-beautiful Pond Inlet, that seemed so depressing upon first sight is not so disappointing after all! Thank you for having had us, we had a good time.Read more