The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other things.

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

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So another thing I can cross off my bucket list.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Thursday and our second sea day steaming from Greenland to Canada.Awoke at 0600 and it was a beautiful fine day and a swell that was no more than an inch or two.Went to Breakfast and at 0800 the fog rolled in.Couldn't see a thing.Did go to the morning's Geology lecture.
Whilst having lunch the fog lifted and a whale was seen but at a considerable distance.After lunch went to Historian Peter's lecture on the Franklin Expeditions.After all he had been Governor of Van Dieman's Land so of interest to all of us who have worked in Tasmania.Peter makes history interesting.

With the sunshine the sea birds returned.Northern Fulmars kept making runs right past our balcony-

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And then we saw Canada-

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That afternoon it was an open bridge so went for a look-

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Rewarded with a nice hug from Karolina.
It was a long way up Frobisher Bay.The sun set and the moon made a short appearance rising then setting after a few minutes-

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Tonight was the Venetian Society coughtail party and dinner.At least 80% of the passengers were repeat Silver Explorer passengers.We had dinner with the Expedition Leader Robin West and his father and 2 women from the US.A good night was had by all.
Went up to the bar but as we arrived the Northern Lights made another appearance.Not as strong as the previous night but reflected in the water-

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Friday.Overcast and a little rain at first.Then fog which fortunately quickly lifted.After Breakfast we anchored off Iqaluit the Capital of Nunavit province.A compulsory stop for Canadian Immigration and other formalities-apparently the ship was advised that crew quarters were going to be inspected as well.
After the face to face Immigration check it was back to bed.We had to wait until the formalities were done.So lunch and only then we headed off in the Zodiacs for a tour of Iqaluit.The weather was improving but still a strong wind so a very long choppy zodiac ride.
On shore we met our luxury transport-

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We visited the small museum and community centre before going around the town.It wasn't that impressive-

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The harbour front was bustling-

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We then drove a little out of town to where the Hudson Bay Company set up at the start of last century-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

More of the Hudson Bay Company-

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One of the houses is now privately owned.It demonstrates the normal housing situation here.

The smaller pipe is for water,the larger for sewerage.
Here is our group inspecting alternative transport-

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But I doubt it was going anywhere-

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But probably there were the odd good times-

In 1942 the town moved to it's present site when the US established an air base there.Until recently this was the second longest paved strip in Canada.,It has had the A380 land here and was an alternate strip for the Space Shuttle.It handles 2000n flights a month now.Amazing for a town of 8000 people.

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And on cue one of those flights went overhead-

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Then off to the Power station.This was an exciting tour.But we got a good look over town.The hospital is in the foreground-

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And some Inuit outside art-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Next to the environmental park where people liked to fish-

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And back across the town-

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Had dinner with a delightful couple from Connecticut and we swapped some travel tips.
We then steamed back up Frobisher bay enjoying the day's last light-

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For the third night in a row the lights put on a show but not as good tonight-

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The Explorers searchlights put on a better show as a container vessel was coming the other way-

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So now to Saturday.Awoke 0730,had a quick breakfast and out on the zodiacs at 0830 for a cruise through the Lower Savage Islands.You are dropped at one end,the ship relocates and you are picked up on the other side of the Islands.The sea was calm but it was oivercast with showers.A pleasant zodiac cruise-

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Some people had a good viewing of a polar bear.We got there in time just to see it disappear over a hill-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

But still enjoyable with the rock formations and seeing the range of the tides on the rocks-

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I sure needed a nice hot cup of coffee on return.Then lunch and get ready for a 1430 cruise of Nanook harbour.
Ready to go-

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We saw birds-here an auk-

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and waterfalls-

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and this-

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No not dirty snow but a mother polar bear and her cub.This is at 50X zoom.In real life this was not the best polar bear sighting.But we did see snow-

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An interesting demonstration of the high water mark-

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But plants can still grow here.

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

So a nice cup of tea on return.Good recap.Great company at dinner and nearly last to leave.Up to the bar.Went outside to check if the lights were making another appearance but it was snowing so quickly back inside.

Sunday and our schedule calls for a zodiac cruise along the cliffs of Akpatok Island which is meant to be our best chance of up close polar bear viewing.But overcast,raining,3-4 metre swell and 70Kmh winds.
At 1045 the days activities are officially cancelled.So off we cruise to Douglas Harbour.
Here is our view of Akpatok-

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Naturally the weather kept improving but all we could do was admire the sunset-

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and the moon-

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Some good lectures.Another night we decided to eat in our suite.Just had appetisers.Then off to sleep for a big day tomorrow.
Monday and we awake in Douglas harbour to a beautiful day-

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As this is the Explorer's first time here various expedition parties go out.Decide on a spot and offer a difficult walk and an easy walk.I decide on the easy walk.I have always had difficulty climbing hills and the knee has made things worse.30 go on the difficult walk and 78 the easy walk.I wait until my zodiac group is called so naturally last into the zodiacs.Most are waiting for us-

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The zodiac ride both ways was pleasant with a very calm harbour-

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The easy walk was a climb over rocks,bogs and uneven ground with a couple of steeper sections.However even part way up the views were great-

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A lovely little stream-

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

A few on the easy walk didn't make it to the lake.I was the last of those I did.I hid my discomfort with photos of plants etc a way of taking a break-

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See the beauty of photography.By getting down low and using a wide angle you can make the hill look much steeper!
The lake was nice with great reflections-

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I looked up to the top of the hill where the hardy went up in a group.They came down though in 1's and 2's.

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Now when I made it to the top one couple made some disparaging remarks.Little did they know that although hopeless at climbing I have no problems descending even the steepest or most uneven descents.I left the lake near last.Spied the couple a fair way down the hill,caught up easily,made sure I was running when I passed and commented how easy a descent it was.

Now there were meant to be a lot of lemmings and caribou in the distance.I saw no live animals and even missed the dead lemmings so had to be content with this-

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Then an easy ride back to the Explorer-

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Whilst having lunch it was announced that Captain Maggi had offered to take a cruise up the Southwest arm of the fjord.Greatly appreciated.She took the Explorer to the end of the fjord,turned the ship on itself and then cruised out.definitely a very good Expedition Captain.So enjoy Quebec as rarely seen-

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Incoming!

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

A couple of the Expedition staff were returning in a zodiac.The ship did not slow.The zodiac was attached to the ropes,the crew climbed out and the excellent crew retrieved the zodiac-

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And some more of beautiful Quebec-

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So the last photos from Douglas Harbour,Quebec-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

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There is a motorised canoe with 2 guys fishing.They try to get close.When reviewing my photos I realise one of them is taking a picture with his Ipad-

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Even the dog is along for the ride.We didn't see any evidence of a settlement near by.
After the recap we come back to the cabin to be greeted by this-

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For the second time mrsdrron has her birthday on the Explorer.
Had a really good dinner with good food and great companions.A couple of amarulas in the bar and a great night out on the deck-

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Unfortunately a little cool.
Tuesday and it was Cape Dorset an Inuit art centre.Initially the weather was pretty good and this time I was in the first zodiac-but only because they wanted a single and mrsdrron was still protecting her back.
A quiet hamlet-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Within a short while of landing the wind began to pick up.The flags on the visitor's centre were demonstrating this-

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The morning was taken up visiting Art Galleries.Several demonstrations during the morning-

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Though some of the art was quite natural-

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Of course you recognised that last photo-




An Oosik of course!

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So some carvings-

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Some more of town-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

And some alternative art-

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To be a little provocative there were some signs that Cape Dorset was a drinking town with an Art problem.Several older men and a group of youngsters were well under the weather.
Talking of the weather the wind had really come up and the zodiac ride back was a lot bumpier.First lunch then a demonstration of throat singing-

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Interesting but I don't think I am a convert.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

The afternoon was a zodiac ride to the Mallikjuag Territorial Park across the bay from the town.This contains the ruins of the Thule era winterhouses of~AD1000.The Inuit called them the Little People.Certainly believe that from their homes.Before the Thule were the Devon and pre-Devonian cultures.
So to the Thule houses-

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The houses were on a little lake.From the bones there they ate well-

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Still nature is also on show-

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

More of nature.Black fungi-

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Lichen mosaics-

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The view to Cape Dorset-

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And the opposite bay-

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Walking on the tundra here was a very different experience-very spongy.The weather had taken a turn for the worse and the zodiac ride back was very bumpy.My thighs had not really recovered from the hike so I needed a long soak in the tub before recap and dinner.

For dinner we were with Jack and Ann from Dallas and a fellow I ended up calling my Uncle Bruce and his wife Margo from Melbourne.The 6 of us became a regular team.
Bruce became my adopted Uncle after we realised we knew a few people in common and his Cardiologist a couple of years younger than I grew up just 6 houses from me.It is a small world.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Wednesday and the big day had arrived.Today was the day we hope to see walrus.The weather was a lot worse.Rain,strong winds and a high swell.First stop was Bencas Island.Unfortunately that was cancelled.So now my last hope was the place that led me to want to be on this voyage-Walrus Island.

We arrive at Walrus Island and it is still raining,wind 60Kmh and seas very choppy.It didn't look good so I went out on deck and took a few long distance shots-there were indeed walrus.This is why I invested in a new camera-

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But then the wind drops,the skies clear and my prayers answered.We are off to the island by zodiac.Even from a little way out the scene was all I had dreamed of-

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Closer in you can see these are mainly females and pups-

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The reddish ones have just become a little hot.

Naturally a few more walrus shots-

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[Pushka]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Fabulous photos drron.

I'm sure you've completed an Alaskan cruise with zodiacs; which ones do you recommend for an up close encounter?

 

[hvb]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

drron.

As always, a pleasure to read your trip report.

Thanks for making to effort.... it is appreciated.

hvb

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

The trip to the Island was very wet but coming back we were going with the swell.Didn't worry me I was very happy.The swell though is still a problem.Loading/unloading of the zodiacs was very slow.Captain Maggi has once again done a great job.

Dinner with the team,again very enjoyable.Then the liars club and a full moon.

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Slept soundly and contented. Wednesday we awoke it was a beautiful sunny day,wind was still 40Kmh but very little swell.I went to Karolina's talk on her trip to the North Pole and Mrsdrron went to the Chef's presentation which she thought was very entertaining.
By midday the temperature was 10C,50F so we thought it would be a good idea to eat on the back deck.However the wind was now-

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So mrsdrron looked like this-

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As the day progressed the wind increased,the swell became very noticeable.Despite this at the Captain's farewell Captain Maggi wore even higher heels than at the initial reception.She didn't miss a step.Rapa shone,literally-

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Captain Maggi gave a recap of the voyage.Many felt it the best farewell Captain's speech on the Explorer.

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At the end we had our photo taken with her-

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Now just in case you didn't pick up that I was wearing a bow tie here is another shot of it-

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After this the team had dinner with Deputy Expedition Leader Tim Amm,another delightful fellow.
A delightful end to our last sea day.Next Arviat.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Friday and an early breakfast for me.Once again I was on the first zodiac as they needed a single for a full complement.We had anchored 4 miles of Arviat and the ride seemed to take forever.
Arviat is home to the Caribou Inuit.Was set up in the 50s when the caribou migration didn't take place for several years so the Mounties moved several starving bands of Inuit here.
A very nondescript hamlet of 1800 souls-

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