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

What I LIKE

10:15 – 1^st expedition in 2^nd 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 – 2^nd expedition in 1^st 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!