Merci Des Groseilliers
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Merci Des Groseilliers |
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| On November 6, 1998,
the Des Groseilliers returned home to Quebec City. It was a magnificent
tableau as the Des Groseilliers came into sight after 18 months at sea. There was a welcome
home ceremony attended by family, friends, co-workers, and dignitaries including
the Govenor General of Canada , the Canadian Minister of Fisheries,
and the United States Consul General to Quebec.
As part of this ceremony the SHEBA Science
Team had an opportunity to express their thanks to the crew of the Des
Groseilliers.
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The Des Groseilliers returning home to Quebec City, November 6, 1998.
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Merci Des Groseilliers
Today the Des Groseilliers has come home. It is a day for thanks - that the crew and all the participants have returned home safe and sound. It is a day for celebration - a celebration of the remarkable achievement of the Des Groseilliers and her crew.
A year on the ice. A year on the ice! Looking back, now that it's done, what were we thinking? Go up to the Arctic, freeze a ship in the ice, and drift for a year. All the time doing sophisticated science. When you think about it, it seems pretty farfetched and unlikely. But we did it - we did it thanks to the Des Groseilliers and her crew. It wasn't easy. There were plenty of challenges along the way. October - would we find a floe? November - nightfall. December - the cold. January - the wind. February - leads in camp. March - shear, the camp moves away. April - spring brings leads and bears. May - drifting towards Russia. June - a difficult rotation. July - summer melt. August - thin ice and floe breakup. September - dismantling the camp. October - the voyage home.
The Des Groseilliers and her crew were there through it all, working to make SHEBA a success. No matter what the situation the crew were always capable, calm, and creative. Their abilities and enthusiasm are amazing. No matter what the request from the scientists, and some of the requests were pretty outrageous, the response was always the same - a smile and a "no problem."
The Des Groseilliers and her crew gave us the three essentials needed to survive in the Arctic. Shelter - they gave us a place to work, a place to live, a place to belong. Food - ahh, the food! La cuisine du Des Groseilliers est magnifique. It's the best food I've ever had. Morale - no matter what the situation, the crew always had a smile, a twinkle in their eye and a kind word to say. And there were the special events - miniature golf, Kareoke night, talent shows, and Easter baskets. They helped keep everyone's spirits high.
On behalf of the entire SHEBA team, we express our thanks to the crew of the Des Groseilliers. For the past year you gave us more than a base of operations, you gave us a home. You have our deepest admiration, our utmost respect, our sincere thanks, and our everlasting friendship. Merci, merci beaucoup. Vous etes les meillieux. You are the best.
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Helo log Bridge log Daily log The team
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