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Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:10 pm
by Bushveld Jock
Hi Dewi,

Great to see that you are back to report on your trip. ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ The boat looks very nice and I hope you had some close encounters with the Isbjorns. \O \O \O

I though the weather would have been more sunny there. -O- Can't wait to read the rest of your TT 0() 0() 0()

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:13 pm
by nan
O/\ O/\ O/\
great start ;-)
1984... not really yesterday =O: =O: =O:

and then 0()

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:59 pm
by Dewi
Thanks for the comments all. \O Much appreciated.

Lis, there may be one or two other white things on their way sometime. ;-)

Mel, I stopped puffin and used patches. I may have got just as close to one or two others. O**

Flutts, I did not take a pick of my hammock. =O:

Jif, stay with me here, I'll get to the exciting bits soon enough.

RP, when I first went to the States, I got to JFK and hopped on a twin prop plane to go up to the little airport near to where my sis lives. A guy three seats in front kept looking back at me quizzicaly. When we were walking to the terminal, he asked where I'd got the t-shirt I was wearing. I explained that it was when I worked down South. He said "I've been there also." Turns out he was a pilot doing magnetic surveys and flew over the base several times. "I was the guy on the roof with the flares." I replied. We shared a beer together afterwards. :shock:

PRWIN, They used to capture the cubs to supply to Zoos. They kept them chained outside their cabins.

BJ, Close encounters of the furred kind. \O

Nan, don't remind me, I'm getting old. =O:

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:20 pm
by Dewi
As we headed North, turning out of Isfjorden and into Forland Sound, the island on our Port side reminded me of some dodgy character or other, but I just could not place him. Prins Karls Fiorland looked an interesting place, but we would return here later in the trip.

The first glacier of the trip.
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The evening meal was sumptuous and consisted of the following.....

Smokek salmon with wassabi cream.
Beef fillet in a mushroom and blue cheese sauce with broccoli and roasted potatoes.
Fresh fruit salad.

Beers and wine.

Deeeeeelicious.

I could get used to this lifestyle.

We retired to the lounge for several more drinks and after wandering around on deck, I finally got to bed at 1:30am, only to be up again two hours later, binoculars and camera in hand, seeking out the wonders of this Northern wilderness. I stayed out on deck until breakfast time, which consisted of.......

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Yummy.

and the first bergy-bit of the trip.
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We sailed into Kongsfjorden and tied up alongside the dock at Ny-Alesund. A once bustling coal mine, but now a major research station where countries from all over the World participate in scientific studies of this Arctic wonderland.

The glacier as we approached Ny-Alesund.
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One of the old coal trains.
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And an old wooden storage facility.
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We stopped at the bust of Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole. The guide gave us an interesting talk on his life and his travels in both poles, which fascinated me no end.
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A quick look at the Chineese research facility.
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Then it was a lecture on safety when out in the wilderness.
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A walk out into the nearby tundra gave me the chance to photograph the wildflowers here.

Moss Campion.
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Arctic Chickweed.
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On we walked, marvelling at the scenery and enjoying the fresh Arctic air. Just about here we saw our first.......

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:25 pm
by Sprocky
This must be the best trip I have never been on! \O I wasn't there but I feel the cold and smell the food and sea in every pic! O/\

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:43 pm
by Jillinflorida
It all looks incredible - although a little too cold for me. However, I could eat smoked salmon 3 meals a day.

Loved the blue base on the iceburg and the flowers. Okay I've got my weapon for when you go beyond the sign (0) - so do the bears know not to come past that sign? I'd love to see a glacier - hopefully will get to Alaska in a couple of years.

You're very cruel to just leave us hanging wondering. :-?

^0^

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:03 pm
by Lisbeth
The dinner sounds really delicious, but don't tell me that you liked the brown Norwegian "geitost" (on the breakfast table)? :shock:

Amundsen, was quite a character \O

It all looks very cold.....the scenery, I mean =O: =O:

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:20 pm
by Mel
I don't do suspense! 0=

0' ^0^ =O:

Fascinating scenery! But it does look a bit nippy...

So, no more puffin but a whole lot of excellent food... How much weight did you put on? -O
(Still on patches? You might as well after not having had a fag for so long! :shock: )

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:55 pm
by nan
:-? the train seems to be a... toy -O

first glacier, first ceci..., first cela... and where are the beasts --00--

^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ;-)

Re: In Search of Isbjørn.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:08 pm
by Dewi
BOO!

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Sorry, I could not resist. =O: =O: =O: