Today starts out very early with an announcement that a bearded seal has been seen on an ice floe, and off in a distance a polar bear is walking around on another ice floe.
I can't get dressed fast enough, but I get myself upstairs to one of the many viewing points, camera in hands. It's 32 degrees at this time 7:30 am but wasn't windy so I was very comfy.
I see the seal and actually located another one. We got close to one seal and then it jumped into the water. Ok now back to the polar bear that was a mile away and walking on the ice. That far away it looks like a spec, a dot, certainly not recognizable as a bear. Nevertheless I am taking pictures of this dot as are the rest of us red jacketed tourists.
We get closer and closer to the bear. The ship stops and the bear is a quarter mile away. It is walking now toward the bearded seal still on an ice floe. Going faster and faster. The seal jumps in the water and the bear is a sad creature. He sits down and waits for the seal to reappear. The question now is how long will the captain wait before moving us away - will we get to see the bear get the seal or walk away?
Well one thing we learned about these polar bears is that they have a lot of patience. Certainly more than I have. That bear sat there for probably over half hour though it seemed like an eternity.
Then the bear decides to give up, much to my delight. Up he gets and starts walking towards the ship. Now you can tell it's a bear! And he walks and walks and then before you know it he is at the front of our ship. By now the crew is on deck with cameras and everything is very quiet. The bear smells us
and food as we have not had breakfast.
This beautiful animal now proceeds to walk down the starboard side of the ship looking up to see what we are. He is so close you could almost touch him. Cameras clicking and excitement that you can't believe.
As he moves around the ship all the passengers and crew move with him. We are all in amazement. Never has this happened before we are told by the guides. He then goes around to the back of the ship where the dining area is and people there see him stand up and try to get on the ship. Then he comes up the port side. At one point he stands straight up on his back legs. What a sight that was. He is one big bear. His feet are huge. The paw tracks on the ice are large and round. He is beautiful. We are so excited.
We saw him jump several times from one ice floe to another. He is graceful. These ice floes are suppose to be in many of the places we have been but they have melted. You could see the ice melting as we watch. Guess it freezes up during the night and melts a bit during the day.
Finally he turned around and walked away.
Now we go to breakfast and still have lookouts for more bears. But how can we top the last one! Mother and cub I guess!!!
After lunch and in calm waters they offer the Polar Plunge. This is where they bring down a zodiac and some stairs. People come in their bathing suits and get in the zodiac. A waist band attached to a rope is put around them and then two at a time they jump into the cold Arctic water and immediately get up the stairs and get out. We had almost forty people do it. What a hoot!
One guy had a GoPro on. We have a few teenagers on board with their parents. They all did it naturally and even some of the crew members. Looked mighty cold.
Afternoon is relaxing time hoping to hear that another bear has even spotted. We are in an ice floe area that is beginning to thin out.
No more bears today. Love, J
What a hoot is right! So glad you are there to be eyes and ears for us...
ReplyDeleteAlways, margaret