Excursions and Animals Galore

Excursions and Animals Galore Coordinates 79.26.433 N 19.59.808 E After the brilliant success of Wednesday morning's Polarbearpalloza, we made it onto dry land later in the afternoon at Phippsoya, part of the Seven Islands at the northernmost corner of the Svalbard Islands. There after a wild zodiac ride we came upon a 100 plus group of Atlantic Walrus, some as big as 3.5 meters long and 1500 kg (that's 3,300 lbs) big! You have to approach them pretty quietly so as to not spook them, because they can immediately haul out to sea and possibly squash their young in the process. They have no real predator (Polar Bears don't mess with them) and love to lay on the beach and sleep. Their tusks are amazing, and I have some great pictures for the future to share to prove it. Another sighting of a Polar Bear and her cub on the way back to the ship made Wednesday made a very memorable day. Today (Thursday) started off with an early morning Zodiac excursion to Alkefjellet for the largest breeding colony of Brunnich's Guillemots. After being greeted by a Northern Minke Whale a mere 200 feet off the ship's starboard , we made our way by Zodiac to Alkefjellet. Literally hundreds of thousands of these amazing seabirds were hanging on and/or nesting on the sheer cliff walls of Alkefjellet. These incredible birds were flying and swimming all around us, and the racket they made was unreal!! I have a great video of this to post when I get back. Alkefjellet was incredibly dramatic, shrouded in mist, and its pinnacles jut out of the cliff side in a severe and unique landscape unseen so far in this journey. Getting back on land later this afternoon, the past few days has been an explosion in wildlife, scenery and excitement for all on board. Some great excursions, and more lie ahead! A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip tak es us. -- John Steinbeck