(Photo: Min Jung) Ducks escaping from us.Monday, 26th of August 2013

 

Our site is located about 25 km away from the station, and I had to ride a boat to work. I could also drive a car there, but there is no paved way until the site and riding a boat is the easiest and fastest option. However, since I cannot drive a boat, Vova always came to the station to pick me up (yes, I am spoiled).

When our whole group was here, we used to ride 60 horse power boat which was fast and quite comfortable, but Vova and I are driving 15 horse power boat instead. It is slow, bumpy, and windy (there is no wind shield) but somehow it is more adventurous and fun!

 

Naughty Vova sometimes goes to more wavy area intentionally to splash more water to me.

(Photo: Min Jung Kwon) I was allowed to drive a boat for 30 seconds!There are not many things to do on a boat but it is not boring all the time. In mid July, we found a duck family on the way.

 

A mommy duck was teaching swimming to the little baby ducks.

 

When we approached to them, those little ducks tried their best to escape from us by peddling, but then they just went into the water and came out on the other side of the river when they found out they were not fast enough.

From that day I always opened my eyes big to find them again, but we could not meet them very often.

 

About two weeks later we found them again, and naughty Vova was approaching to them. Surprisingly one of them flew about 5 km with us!

 

In mid August on the last boat ride from the site back to the station, those little cute baby ducks had gro(Photo: Min Jung Kwon) Russian soldier brother, Vova and me! On a very cold day, Vova prepared extra thick jacket for me. wn much so that I could not distinguish them from their mom easily, and they did not have to go into the water to escape from us.

 

They are now fast enough on the water and maybe already ready to fly to the far South over winter.

I always wanted to drive a boat but Vova never allowed me. On the last day, however, he gave me a special opportunity – driving a boat for 30 seconds! Driving a boat was not that easy as it looked. Because the handle is directly connected to the motor, the boat was moving very sensitively as I moved my hand by only 1 cm.

Also I had to control the direction and speed with one bar at the same time, and it was very confusing to me. I thought he was not generous because he gave me only 30 seconds, but I understood later why he did that.

Next time when I come back to Cherskii, I will ask him more time though :)

 

Written by Min Jung Kwon