Wed
30 Jul
2014
Some days fall into shape by themselves, starting a bit vague in the morning (or the day before, when I am developing ideas) and then becoming amazing days which have their own dynamics. Sometimes, things just happen.
I had to consider other ships and mixed weather, so I had been thinking for quite a while about different options for the morning, before Midterhukhamna crossed my mind. And it turned out to be the ideal choice, even without Grey phalaropes. Other than that – pure pleasure in one of Spitsbergen’s most friendly areas.
What was supposed to be a hike turned out to be the trip’s shortest landing later. It was all the fault of this lazy polar bear that was sleeping behind some stones. It was only later that we found out that it was actually a good thing: it saved us from a rainy afternoon. Instead, we went to Akseløya, where we enjoyed sunshine for most of the late afternoon, apart from a few raindrops. Great, warm evening light on the northern slopes of Midterhukfjellet with its amazing folds. This mountain is really unique amongst all mountains in this world. The same holds true for the island.
Click on thumbnail to open an enlarged version of the specific photo.
Dozens of Grey phalaropes, and it felt like a billion of Arctic terns who didn’t like us at all, for what reason one might only guess. A pair of Arctic skuas, dark morph, both of them. What else? As if all this wasn’t quite enough already. A shame only that the last days started to have an effect on many; not everybody had enough energy left for this landing.