FUN-travel: Alkjefellet & Wahlbergoya, Svalbard – A&K Arctic Cruise Day 4
August 29, 2014 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Alkjefellet & Wahlbergoya, Svalbard – A&K Arctic Cruise Day 4
Day 42 – Monday, August 11 – Alkjefellet & Wahlbergoya, Svalbard – A&K Arctic Cruise Day 4 – light morning drizzle – mid 30’s– 24 hrs daylight
- 10:15 – 1st expedition in 2nd group – zodiac tour
- – foggy low clouds hug shore line jagged hills – drizzle stops
- – 300 ft high cliffs w/high columns caused by erosion jut out of sea
- – filled w/1000’s of black guillemots
- – breeding pairs occupy almost every inch
- – constant frantic activity & squawking – some fighting in ocean
- – baby chicks don’t fly off, they drop off, them swim w/mom
- – their little feet paddling franticly as they learn how to swim – just too cute!
- – fabulous 10+ start to the day!
- 11:45 – return
- 12:30 – lunch Asian/Chinese theme
- Nap
- 3:00 – 2nd expedition in 1st group – wet landing – landscape pretty desolate
- – timber logs dot the coastline
- – from Russian logging caught in Arctic tides
- – there are no trees in the Arctic
- – some patches of colorful moss & lichen
- – a dozen walrus hanging out & warming up
- – get a show when Walter the Walrus rolls himself down beach to water
- – fabulous 10+ end of day!
- 4:30 – happy hour – nice Chardonnay Viognier blend
- – in room cheese & salami snacks from lunch
- 6:00 – steam room VG for stiff back
- 7:00 – expedition recap & tomorrow schedule in theatre Deck 4
- 7:30 – dinner on Deck 2
- 10:30 – whale spotting alert – up to deck 7
- – blue whales are the biggest of all
- – see a few spouts – not much fanfare
- 11:30 – to bed
- No satellite coverage – no internet
- – just enjoy being in present w/o distraction
What I DON’T LIKE
- – not as showy as the humpbacks
- No satellite coverage – like having news channels – no internet
FUN-fact – There is no sun from August to March and full sun the other months.