The Ocean Nova

This is our ship - the Ocean Nova.  Built in Poland, her captain was a Russian. She is quite small so she can in closer to land.  Also, she is specially strengthened to stand  up to Polar ice

Two More Photos Of The Storm

   

Storm At Sea

This is us crossing the Norwegian Sea heading North to Svalbard.  It took two days and it was stormy like this all the time.  The film clip is taken through the window of the lounge on the top deck of the ship.  That means that we are about 15 meters above the level of the water.  You can see why nobody was allowed outside!

Beware Bears

 This road sign says "Applies to all of Svalbard".  In other words, beware of bears wherever you are.  People carry rifles any time they go out of town and they are allowed to shoot polar bears only in self-defence.

The first shot is fired to miss, so that it will scare the bear off.  If it keeps on coming, your only hope is to shoot to kill.

Hens' Horror Movie

Spitsbergen

 

It was like this even at one o'clock in the morning in the Arctic.

Back From The Arctic

Arrived home at 9pm.  The train from London only took 4 hours .... amazing!  It will take longer than that to unpack.