The morning starts with major re-organization.
According to my itinerary, the caribou hunt should have run from 29th August to 5th September, and I was to fly to Montana on the 6th. However, the musk-ox hunt ended so quickly, that, despite the memorable mix-up over the plane ticket, I arrived here on the 28th August. And tomorrow, the 3rd Sept. we are to return to Yellowknife. So, by my calculations, whatever happens, I shall lose one night. The point is, it means that I will end up spending three nights (3rd,4th,5th Sept) in Yellowknife; but, if this happens, my life and my trip will come to an abrupt end, as by the second night I will have slit my wrists through boredom.
Yesterday, I asked Pat to give Cabela's a call today. At the time, he promised to do it, but this morning he has hanged his mind, and tries to persuade me to sort the problem out with Boyd Warner, the outfitter. (Just like the musk-ox hunt, this was also organized by Boyd's company.) He doesn't understand that I really have nothing to say to Boyd - I don't actually know who he is, and I'm not particularly interested. I have no business connection with him whatsoever; I have not directly paid him a cent, and I'm not about to start. My contract is with Cabela's; they represent me in situations like this. Pat finally realises that it is useless trying to make me call Boyd: it's not going to happen. So we call Frank on the satellite phone.
Frank and Jen grasp the situation immediately, and we all agree that I must get to Billings, the capital of Montana, as soon as possible. Jen is already booking the plane ticket, so I stand a good chance of getting there the day after tomorrow. They even give me the option of going on to the Montana hunting camp earlier than previously arranged, without any extra charge, but I decline the offer. I have several things to do in Billings: for instance, I would like to to buy some
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new clothes, as I'm starting to look like a refugee from a war zone. There must also be some emails waiting for me, and I won't be able to answer them from the Chateau Nova Hotel as, for some reason, I cannot reach my Hungarian mail server from there. But, given the quality of the hotel, I would actually have been surprised if I had been able to. So complete is my trust in Cabela's that I have already transferred the payment for my trip, including the tips for the guides, in advance. The tips are usually 10 - 15%, but for expensive hunts, such as ram hunts, they are often lower. As I was going to be hunting in so many different places during my trip, it did not seem a good idea to carry all the money for tips with me in cash, which is why I included it in the transfer. I arranged with Frank that, after each hunt, I would send an email confirming the payment of the tip, if I felt so inclined. Pat knows very well that the tip is with Cabela's, and reminds me to mention it when I speak to Frank. I am, by nature, a patient man, but I feel this is somewhat impertinent. At least he hasn't asked me to sign an IOU. Interestingly, he takes it for granted that he will receive something. He's in for a big surprise.
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He's going fishing today, but I have decided to remain in the camp. I'm going to watch archery DVDs on Jake's notebook. I began watching one yesterday: it's really amazing what these archers do. They'll climb a tree, using various straps and bands, and just hang there until the game appears. How they are able to maintain such a position for such a long time, I have no idea. In another film a heavily camouflaged archer shot down a moose the size of a small truck from only 30ft. away.
The weather is nice again and - what a surprise - the wind has stopped!
There is dead calm!
We are witnessing a unique natural phenomenon, and I even film it, as otherwise no one would believe me. We rush out into the open air to fully appreciate this paranormal experience. Ricardo makes good use of his last day of hunting. After breakfast he grabs his bow and, accompanied by Jake, he sets off. I wish them good luck, and sincerely hope that they'll return bearing a huge trophy!