In Search of Isbjørn.

[nan]

he uses paws a little bit like Lions... all in suppleness, (flexibility, litheness, versatility... don't with one is the more appropriate )
and superb to see him jumping from "ice to ice"
and then a second...but not in white

[Lisbeth]

Nothing to be afraid of, Dewi! The bear is nowhere near you

[Jillinflorida]

Bum shot was great - and I agree the next pic is fabulous - also love the one where he's about to jump to the next ice flow. Glad you included a pic of you too. What a great coffee table book this would make.

I KNEW it, a bear is going to attempt to get on boat.... Heehee. That's going to be incredible.

Can't wait for next installment.

[Sprocky]

Dewi, sorry but you look slightly out of place on the ice with a frosty in hand. I would have done the same though.

That Isbjorn's head looks out of proportion to the rest of it's body.

[Bush Brat]

To amazed for words Dewi!! What a magnificent animals and magnificent pics!!

[Flutterby]

Love the bum shot & the jumping one!!

Nice pic of you too!

[Dewi]

Thank you Lisbeth, Nan, Jillinflorida, Sprocky, Bush Brat & Flutterby.

Sprocks, what do you mean by out of place? I was in my natural habitat there.

His head was massive, but not compared to the rest of his body.

Nan, all the words you used are apt descriptions.

Glad you liked the pics Jill, BB & Fluts.

Lis, another close encounter later in the TT.

[Dewi]

While we were tied to the ice, some went for a stroll to experience sea-ice for the first time. It was sleeting lightly, so some of the pics have drops of rain visible on them.

The MS Stockholm tied up alongside the floe.



Going for a stroll.





I took some photos of the navigation screen to show where we were.





The evening meal consisted of a crab salad starter with cod in prawn sauce for the main.

As we were tied to the ice, the ship drifted about 22 miles further North. We had seen 7 Polar Bears on the ice this day, along with Harp Seals, which I never managed to get photos of as they were too wary. We set sail again in the morning and headed Southeast, out of the ice and into thick fog. Eventually arriving off Karl XII Island where the zodiac was lowered into the water and we cruised around the island. We did not land as there were at least 5 Bears roaming around and it would have been too risky with the island being so small.

Eider Ducks swam along the coastline with their young. Kittiwakes and Guillemots were nesting on the higher cliffs and Glaucous Gulls flew around patrolling for unwary birds.

I forgot to post photos of the Glaucous Gulls that we saw in better weather the day before, so I'll use them here so you can see what they look like. The weather was too bad to get any of the ones around this island.





Karl XII Island.



One of the 5 Bears present there.





As we rounded the island, the local Walrus pod came over to inspect us. They were very inquisitive and some came really close to the zodiac.







Dinner that evening was humus starter with curry for the main. The pounds were piling on.

Overnight, we sailed for Cape Leigh Smith where our next little adventure would begin.......

[Jillinflorida]

The ice flow look like clouds where the group is walking. My luck I'd slip and fall into the water.

Can not believe you didn't stop off on the island. Five bear. I'm sure they would have enjoyed chasing you down.

The gulls and walrus - wonderful. So when does the bear try to get on the boat??

[nan]

interesting to see the instrument of sailing
supeb Glaucous Gulls and of course photo, this one ready to landing
wow what the world is small... with all these personages so far away
it seems it will be easy to find Isbjørn or I'm not right