Burgerbukta - First feet on Svalbard
Through breakfast this morning, south Spitsbergen emerged from heavy low cloud out at sea. The white on the distant horizon was dense enough to make you wonder if it was actually Svalbard or just more cloud. But it became clear these were glaciers and ice fields. Ohh my heart. I felt home.
“I’m so excited! I’m so ready!”
Today, our little group of 25 or so were the first called down to the ‘ready room’ to gear up for the zodiacs. Life vest, boots, mittens, toque and done. We had by this time perfected the getting ready process, life vest strap from our back, down snuggly between our legs back up to our chest and all. I was so excited and so ready as I stood by getting scanned off the ship waiting to jump into our zodiac.
6 5 chargers to rule them all
In our daily briefing the night before, it was explained that this afternoon we would break ourselves into 4 groups to go ashore for the opportunity to do some hiking - the chargers, medium-fast, medium, and to raucous laughter - contemplative. The chargers would be described as wanting to go as far and fast as possible to see as much as possible, while contemplative was… not so much needing an explanation.
I was undecided between being a charger and medium-fast. I wanted to see everything but I also wanted to photograph everything and breathe everything in. I ended up with the chargers, 6 victims total to Tara, our expedition leader who was also the first person (in the world) to circumnavigate Svalbard in a kayak 10 years earlier. Within the first 10 minutes, we lost 1 in our break neck pace, and were down to 5. Thankfully, the other chargers were just as happy to make time for photography so we did keep a good pace and time for photos. It was amazing, and the shower back on the ship before dinner was probably the most heavenly one I’ve ever had, aside from the one I just took two days ago at the completion of my main bath renovation back here at home. Finally. How does grout sealer need 72 hours to cure anyway?!
The chargers
Polar bear prints
And then as we were just sitting down for our daily briefing in the theatre right before dinner, we were told to make our way very calmly and quietly to the front of the ship for a wildlife sighting. With no one dressed for the -3°C outside, and more of us with drinks in our hands than cameras, we went out and saw our first polar bear poking around on some sea ice. He was far in the distance, and difficult to see with the naked eye, but incredible all the same.
Another best day.
Our polar bear friend out on some sea ice
