The bow of the Zodiac pushed into the beach, the gentle swell lapping at the transom as the anchor was streamed out. We have landed. The sun is a little too bright to see what we have really come for.
The rays reflecting off of a giant white body like English tourists at the beach. With the click of the rifle and a crunch of the pebbles on the beach, we are on our way. We walked along the shore, looking at the dried drift wood perched on the shore like apricots on toast, only the logs know the length of time and history of how they gotten to this Arctic desert. As we rounded the corner, we saw it. An ice wall the size of a sky scrapper, the beach in front littered with brash ice like suger cubes on the saucer of the queens tea.
It’s quiet, almost too quiet. Suddenly, the glacier came alive and a roar of power surged through our chests as the ice fell into the sea. The tsunami that followed crashed into the cubes of ice on the beach pushing them only slightly, it was a small calving for now, but what about next time? We continued along the glacier morain, navigating the flowing terrain with a careful eye. Will we sink in the snow? Or brave the muddy flats on top? the watchful rocks gazed at us as we clambered by, what sights they must have seen, the rocks here are over 1 billion years old.
In the distance, something caught the expedition leaders eye, a steaming hulk, laying at the shore like a craussant backing in an oven, only the smell was not as inviting. The Walrus applauded our arrival by snorting and snuffing as they tickled each others belly’s with their ivory tusks. They were settling in for the day after a night of feeding. We knelt on one knee and took photographs of them, as if they were Bruce Willis walking down the red carpet, only, without the flash as that would be disturbing to them.
Then, the radio came to life, it was the officer on watch, ”anchore is lifted”. It is now time to return to Sjøveien, full speed with the zodiacs to the vessel. Ready for lunch. Now we are the Walrus, and it is time for our next adventure.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.
