My bear V Pedro's bear (he was official photographer
David’s birthday A day of eating and drinking and seeing a polar bear.
The ship moored in the centre of . Guillemard Bay around 8 am. We were in the first group for the zodiac cruises. It was a 15 minute plus journey before we got near the shore and then we just cruised up and down looking for something white to move in the very far distance.. 75 minutes of getting chilled but once back on board having seen nothing except a polar bear shaped rock.
For a larger photo, click on the thumbnail photo below
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.. we got warm again and changed into respectable clothes. but then came an announcement that we were to be offered a second zodiac cruise, as lst zodiac groups had gone to the opposite shore and had sighted a polar bear. Chris felt that this was a fools errand to get changed into warm waterproof clothes yet again, but went along with it and lo and behold there was a polar bear walking along the shore.
For a larger photo, click on the thumbnail photo below
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Back to the ship by 1.15 we just managed to get lunch in the restaurant, entering in our parkas and lifejackets. We indulged in a glass of wine, Billi Billi, to toast David‘s birthday with a pleasant lunch. then a lecture on Ronald Amundsen’s Journey through the north west passage in 1904, this with just seven people aboard his ship the Gjoa. Then a coffee and a glass of champagne before attending Hedda’s recap of her drone glaciology project that we had joined in Greenland. This was followed by lecture by Lea. on sounds in the ocean.
We returned to the cabin to find balloons and a birthday cake. Having enjoyed this, we went for a walk round the deck and sat in the observation lounge for awhile before changing for dinner before the recap and briefing at 6:15., Dave got more than his usual approval rating because we had seen a polar bear,
We enjoyed another glass of champagne before dinner in the Terrassa. There we had another special birthday cake from the ship. And David got to kiss the hotel director on both cheeks. The boys had more than their normal quota of photos taken during the day and will remember the 25 hour birthday of their father for many a year.
For a larger photo, click on the thumbnail photo below
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