POLAR PLUNGE!!!!!!

June 28, 2015. 

Up early to the Chart Room and started working on photos from last night - 0430, coffee is always on. 

Plan is to Zodiac Cruise and then after lunch make a final landing here in Svalbard. 

Morning is grey, windy and cold. Appears to be a fjord we will be going into where there is a Glacier. 

Calving Glaciers were observed at Smeerenburg Glacier, Fugelfrjorden. 

Snow and fog as we enter the fjord. The wind came up so we are off to another location.

 Plan B is in effect.  Plan B did not work so Plan C - the Polar Plunge. I hate cold water but Lynn convinced (shamed) me into making the plunge. Had to do it as we had done it in Antarctica. Amazing it did not seem as cold as Antarctica, water temp was reported to have been 39F.  After making the plunge you are greeted with a nice warm towel and the Hotel Manager Heinrich was there offering a stiff shot of rum or whiskey.  Nice warm shower afterwards. 

POLAR PLUNGE!!!!

Now we can say we have done it in the Arctic and Antarctica. 

Then a great lecture by Magnus Foresberg about Polar Bears. 

Lunch again was in the Observation Lounge. 

Today there was no photo walk and we did the medium walk with Dennis and Eduardo. They are an informative and entertaining pair. 

We see the historic area of Smeerenburg “Blubber Town”, a significant Dutch whaling area. This was an area where the whale blubber was rendered. Lots of nesting Arctic Turns and there were a few walrus near the shore. 

The Arctic Turn is becoming a favorite bird of mine. It migrates from Pole to Pole on an annual basis. Simply amazing as this is the longest migration known, earning 44,000 frequent flyer miles annually. 

Walked across the boggy moss covered area and along the beach. 

Back to ship for tea, shower and then time for recap and dinner.  Tonight we start sailing towards Greenland.