CRUISING THE ICE!

 

 

 

 

 080926 

Morning Report - 
Current Position is 72°25’ 34.0” N , 25° 14’ 29.8 W”, Speed  5.148 kn, COG 237.0°, Wind320° at 1.9 m/s. 

We had 2 Polar Bears swimming past the ship last night. As current regulations we have to stay clear and move away from the. One of the Guest Speakers on board is reported to have gotten some good images. 

This afternoon at 1600 we will be out on the science boat. Will see what we learn and do. 

Morning Landing at Blomsterbugten - IT WA S HOT!!!  It was a nice uphill hike inland from a rocky beach, we probably covered about 3 miles. There were a good deal of flowers to be observed, also a forest of Arctic Willow trees. The Arctic Willow only grows about 2-3 inches high. 

                                     MUSK OX WAS HERE

                                ARCTIC WILLOW FOREST

 

 

NOTE ON LANDINGS- There are no toilet facilities available so one must plan ahead. I did too much planning and was feeling a bit dehydrated on this morning’s landing. 

1130 is a Lecture  - When Greenland was green. 
It was interrupted by icebergs. That said, one of the big elements to the geology of Greenland is plate tectonics. I feel Greenland is a geologists heaven. I should have studied more on the geology of Greenland.   

 

 

 

1330- Wildlife watch we had lunch and missed this

1600 - We are scheduled on the Science Boat. Landing cancelled due to wind conditions 

There is a pin hole camera demonstration on deck 8 as an activity 

We may be going for a zodiac cruise if a safe location is found. Yes, we did enjoy a scenic cruise. 

2030 - Daily Briefing

2050 - Tiny Talk - Bird adaptions to live in the Arctic. 

Off to bed as another day of discovery awaits. 

LAND HO!!

 LAND HO!! 

 



We have made the crossing - Morning Report - 
Current Position is 73°23’ 52.8” N , 21° 11’ 29.8 W”, Speed  6.026 kn, COG 268.2°, Wind10° at 6.7 m/s. 

Skies are overcast, we have a few icebergs about. 

Our first landing will be Myggbugten. Myggbukta (meaning "Mosquito Bay" in Norwegian) is a former Norwegian whaling, radio, and meteorological  station located in a large bay within the Christian X Land region of Eastern Greenland. Positioned in the south region of the Northeast Greenland National Park near the Hold with Hope Peninsula, it serves today as an isolated automated weather hub and an occasional stop for Arctic expedition cruises.  A fine landing it was. There we found a trappers cabin with a rusting heap of scrap, a old coal forge and several fox traps. We did see some scat and tracks and lots of tiny arctic flowers, including Arctic Cotton Grass.  

At 1130 a Lecture on the History of Greenland - a nice consolidation of the history. Rather informative. 


1400 - Discovery Session Telescopes 101- did not attend. 

Second Landing was Ymer O - Lap Wijkander - we landed on a very rocky beach and after climbing a rock dune, the area opened up into a flat meadow filled  with all sorts of little flowers. Weather was sunny and warm. 

Back to the boat it was laundry time and we needed showers. 


2015 - Daily Briefing - tune in tomorrow for what we did.

2035 - Tiny Talk - Lovers of Lemmings, kewl critters.

With the day done and new locations to be explored  tomorrow. 


DAY TWO CROSSING THE GREENLAND SEA:

 DAY TWO CROSSING THE GREENLAND SEA: 

 

 

 

Current Position is 77° 0’ 45.7” N , 09° 40’45.8” E, Speed  8.448 kn, COG 237°, Wind 109° at 5.8 m/s. 

We have clearing skies that are teasing us. One minute we look to be clearing then the next not so much. 



 

TODAY'S PLAN: 

Wildlife Watch 0830-0930 Deck 8 - Observed the ever present Fulmar and surprised to have a Ruddy Turnstone on the deck. Unusual as it is a shore bird and we are no where near a shore.  There was some snow falling whilst out on deck. We also saw some little auks in the distance.

Photo Scavenger Hunt: 0900-1800 - we grabbed the list and will see what we can find. These events/activities do help one explore the ship. 

Mandatory AECO Briefing: 1115 How to responsibly visit the area where we will land. 

Lecture - A taste of Greenland - Explorer Bar at 1400-1445 Histories from the Wildest Kitchen in the World, on this sailing there will be a Chef’s Table dining based on regional Greenland offerings. 

 

WAFFLES AT 1500!!!

Lecture - Solar Eclipses- Cosmic Shadow Plays 1615 Explorer Bar. Most excellent information was presented in this lecture. There is a lot to a Solar Eclipse and some amazing patterns. 

Wildlife Watch - Deck 8 at 1700 We did not make this as we went to the Sextant presentation.

Workshop - 1700 Build Your Own Sextant - Science Center. Great information about navigation and how a sextant works. 


2015 - 2030 Plans for Today and Mandatory Small Expedition Boat Safety Briefing - Explorer Bar

Tiny Talk: The Sirius Patrol. The Cutest Patrol in the World - Explorer Bar at 2035. 

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, whilst a Danish Special Operations Force, are incredibly diversified in mission and training. Operators have to be highly specialized in many different skills to account for the challenging conditions and varied obstacles that they may face. As of 2020, the unit has undertaken incredibly unforgiving missions for 70 years. As a result of this extensive experience, this unique unit is one of the most elite Special Forces. Indeed, it can be argued that the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol is the Jack of All Trades, and Master of All.


The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol (Slædepatruljen Sirius) is an elite Danish Special Operations unit.Operating in the brutal terrain of Northeast Greenland, they are the world's only military dog sled unit. They are tasked with enforcing Danish sovereignty and conducting long-range patrols in the world's largest national park. 

How They Operate
Size & Scope: The unit consists of only 12 men divided into six two-man teams. Together, they cover over 16,000 km of uninhabited Arctic wilderness each year. 
Extreme Conditions: Patrolling is conducted using heavy, powerful Greenlandic sled dogs pulling up to 400 kg of cargo. Temperatures can plunge below -50°C. 
Complete Isolation: Teams spend up to five consecutive months on the ice without any human contact, relying entirely on themselves for survival, dentistry, and equipment maintenance. 
Gear: Because they are completely on their own, they carry heavy-caliber weapons explicitly for protection against polar bears. 

Training & Selection
Rigorous Qualifying: Out of roughly 50 military applicants each year, only a small, select group is chosen for the intensive preparation school. 
Skill Sets: Selection isn't just about physical strength; candidates need practical skills (such as mechanics and carpentry) and psychological resilience to survive being isolated with one partner for months. Including Veterinarian skills.
Tour of Duty: Members commit to an uninterrupted 26-month tour of duty with zero visits home, internet, or cell phones. 

History
World War II Origins: Originally formed informally in 1941, the unit's primary mission was to find and report Nazi weather stations hidden in Greenland. 
The Cold War: The unit was officially made a permanent branch of the Danish Armed Forces in 1950 to secure Denmark's territorial claims amid rising tensions. 
Headquarters: Their main base of operations, Daneborg, is located on the east coast of Greenland, with summer satellite stations operating further south.





A DAY IN THE GREEN LAND SEA

 A DAY AT SEA: 

 

 

Current Position is 77°15’ 4.3” N , 06° 25’46.2” E, Speed  12.1 kn, COG 240°, Wind 51° at 9.4 m/s. 

We have fog and surface clouds, guessing visibility at 5 miles. Lifting a bit and now have a good horizon. 

I was up doing a walkabout the ship getting photos for the blog. 

Science Center: Deck 6 We have some big dog telescopes on board.  Lots of naturalist stuff. 




Explorer Lounge & Bar: Deck 5 Here is where we will gather for lectures and briefings. It is also our muster station. Here is the 24/7 coffee/tea station. 

 

                                 Closed Ships Store
 

Reception: Deck 5 



Ships Shop: Deck 5 This seems to be an open air shop, have not seen what is on the racks yet. I am guessing it will be open later today. They have things like clothing, optics, jewelry, packs, etc etc . 



Brygga Bistro: Here is a refrigerated cooler with grab and go items. These include salads, fruit, yogurt, cookies and sandwiches. Later in the day sandwiches and soups are offered when the dining room is not open. 



 

 

Aune: This is the main dining room

 

We are in an Arctic Superior room and are finding it to be very comfortable now that we are settled in and our gear stored. Our room could sleep 4 but that would be very tight in my estimation. I would like a bit more bathroom  counter surface. The shower is great. We have two large closets. One side is top to bottom shelves, and the other is for hanging clothes. There is a room safe. In the entry way are 4 hooks for your coats and zodiac life jackets. 

There is a small desk where one finds a coffee service and kettle. The other side of the bed is a night desk. Both are well equipped with ample outlets for charging. 

We do have a nice large window with a limited view. The curtain works well to keep the midnight sun out. 

NO ENTERTAINMENT!!! Yes kids there is no typical cruise entertainment, but here is what we have in store today. 

0915 Lecture: Overview of the Science and Education Program 

0930 - 1100 you can paint your water bottle to make it special. (One receives a really nice water bottle along with the expedition coat, and we also got HX Expedition Hats) 

1000 - 1100 Wildlife Watch on Deck 8 where we can get some fresh air and see what we can see. 

1115 - 1200 Open Science Center to take a deeper look into the ships naturalist collection and the Citizen Science Projects. 

1330 - 1530 is a time to exchange your Muck boots should they not fit. Muck boots are needed for Zodiac cruise and landings. 

1400 - 1445 Lecture on Photo Composition. Our photographer onboard is of the same philosophy as me - get as much right in the camera tisane on Post Processing. 


1515 - 1545 Discovery Session Binoculars 101. Learn how to use your binoculars. I am always surprised as many do not know how to properly use spynoculars. 

1530 - 1730 is another Wildlife Watch secession.


1600-1700 is another chance to paint your water bottle. 

1730 - 1800 is the Captains Welcome, time to meet the Officers and Expedition Team. The Captain is most enjoyable, quite the card.  We also have two culinary representatives from Greenland.  



Earlier during the Wildlife Watch I did see some White-beaked dolphins and the ever-present Fulmars. 

As the captain predicted the seas have progressed to about 3 meters and the wind is hitting the starboard side. 


2015 - 2030 Plans for Tomorrow, basically a daily briefing. 

2030 - 2100 Meet the Eclipse Experts. 

Rahul J. Venkatraman
Rahul's role is to help guests see what the naked eye can't. Using filtered telescopes, cameras, and video equipment, he'll reveal layers of detail in the sun's surface and atmosphere that most people never get to witness. He'll also teach guests how to capture the solar eclipse themselves, whether they're using professional kit or a phone.
By day, he's an aerospace engineer at NASA working on the Artemis missions, humanity's plan to return to the moon.

Dr Daisy Dobrijevic
Daisy's focus isn't just what you'll see, it's everything you'll sense. The light dimming. The temperature dropping. The moon's shadow racing toward the ship. A 360-degree sunset on the horizon. She'll walk guests through every stage of the experience, moment by moment, so nothing passes unnoticed.
She's Skywatching Editor at Space.com, with a PhD in plant physiology and a gift for making complex events feel immediate. She'll also explore why even cloudy skies can still deliver something unforgettable.

Dr Hans Zekl
Hans is a former astronomer who has witnessed nine total solar eclipses since the 1990s. He brings decades of practical observing experience and a knack for connecting the science to the story.
His talks explain how and why eclipses happen, why they're so rare, and how they've fascinated cultures across centuries. On deck, he'll lead safety briefings, guide guests on using telescopes and eclipse glasses, and offer hands-on help throughout the event.


Then I guess  we will get up and do it again, AMEN.