Wednesday 14th June 2023

Last full day on board the ship, and with the weather blowing in, we were not sure what we would do, if anything, other than sit and be buffeted by the strong winds. However, we were going to a fjord, and that could, should offer us some protection against the weather, and maybe allow us to go out in the boats.

As usual, we slept long and well, and again woken by the announcement at quarter to eight, telling us breakfast would be at eight.

We get up and have a late breakfast, and we are then informed that there will be a trip out, just no landing, so meet at quarter to ten.

We decided to go.

Wrap up warm, we were told. So we did.

Again we were in a long fjord, deep in it, and the steep sides protected us from the worse of the winds. We went to look at a colony of Eiders in front of a wide glacier, I got the best shot I could of them the other day, so wasn’t too bothered.

But the wind began to pick up, snow flurries turned into longer periods of snow, and it was getting very chilly indeed.

A bearded seal was spotted, so went over to photograph that, and then the call went up to make our way back to the ship back over the other side of the bay.

And just was we were about to reach the warmth of the ship, the kayakers sent a radio message out that they had seen two bears back over the other side. So, all nine boats turned round, into the teeth of the strong and cold wind, waves and sea water splashing over us all.

We hung on for dear life.

Once we got back to the north side of the bay, the bears were lost from sight. But from the back I watched and snapped as an Arctic Skua tried to catch a Kittiwake. The gull dived to the sea and crouched down, so the Skua couldn’t get a grip.

The Kittiwake survived.

So, we crossed back to the ship, the wind now so strong we could only disembark one boat at a time, but thankfully, we were second, so back up the steps from the landing into the warmth of the ship.

We had a fine lunch, and then were told that there would be one final trip out, with a landing under another cliffs, so the plantlife would be well-fertilised. I can’t lie, I was tempted, but with shore being so close, I was able to see the beach and the steep climb from it, with patches of snow laying deep and crisp and even.

It will come as no surprise, dear readers, to learn that I stayed on board for the afternoon. As did Jools. As did half the passengers.

I don’t regret it. At all.

I think a degree of fatigue had hit us all. Or most of us, there was also the three of an arctic dip, which involved dipping in the sea quickly, but enough to get your hair wet.

I wasn’t up for that.

Those that did came back ruddy faced and laughing, I quality tested the coffee all afternoon, and was even brave enough to try the tea, which was good as they had a machine that delivered near-boiling water.

And that was it for the tour. A look at the map revealed us to be a short cruise the other side of the fjord from Longyearbyen. We would cruise over there in the evening, as we ate the final dinner, meaning great phone and internet connection for everyone, even from our cabin!

We packed, then went up for dinner, which for the only time was menued rather than in a buffet. Main course was rib steak, which was pretty darn good, and as a dessert there was baked Alaska.

We sat in the lounge for a while, the ship was anchored a hundred or so yards from the town, the adventure was all over. What a blast it had been.