The high arctic, Baffin Bay in particular, has fascinated me forever and topped my bucket list. I started reading and collecting books on the area after my college internship in Nome. Since I have always been a dusty-boots, carry-your-home-on-your-back and create-your-own-experience adventurer, I never expected the luxury of a National Geographic Explorer ship would fulfill my dream. Now I can't imagine doing it any other way. What's not to like about traveling with an equally excited, great friend; endless plates of fancy food cooked from scratch; spending 3 weeks with 139 other like minded environmentalists; an amazing crew and; a team of international scientists and National Geographic photographers.
This trip was not licensed as a "cruise" but as an "expedition". The scientists were working along with guiding our adventures and giving presentations. The dive team produced videos, slides and sound recordings of the world beneath our ship. The daily agenda was dictated by ice and wildlife not a predestined course. Only two ports-of-call were scheduled. One we had to lower zodiacs to move an iceberg out of the way so we could dock.
The trip began with a long, slow, stop-and-go commute to PDX for a delayed, night flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. While flying somewhere over the pole, I was treated to about an hour of spectacular northern lights. I so wanted to wake others on the plane. Later I found out that the captain had videoed the show.
Iceland from the air.
Sandy and I had booked a trip to the Perlan Wonders of Iceland Exhibition but after 15 hours of car and airplane seats, we opted for the famed Blue Lagoon Geothermal Pool to hot soak our tired, cramped bodies along with people from all over the world - drinks and a volcanic ash facial were included.
Blue Lagoon
Later that day it was off to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, population 160. A seen-better-days bus gave a mighty effort to get us the mile and 1/2 from the airport to the fiord. After an old school bus loaded with cheering, fellow travelers passed us, we contemplated getting out and walking up the hill to give our bus a fighting chance to make it over the pass. Our slow commute was not wasted. The driver shared a wealth of knowledge about his town, country and wildlife along with his boast that he got to drive the school bus on the next trip.
Kangerlussauaq airport
Town of Kangerlussuaq located at the end of a magnificent 130 mile long fiord (photographed out well worn bus windows).
National Geographic Explorer awaiting us at the shallow Kangerlussuaq port
Our ship was at anchor far out in the shallow bay necessitating our first zodiac ride.
In the mean time, our luggage was loaded from the plane into a shipping container. The container was then transported the same 1 1/2 mile rutted, gravel road to the port where it was loaded by an antique crane onto a boat for transit to our ship.
Sandy and I race our luggage to the ship.
Our home for the next 17 days.
We disembarked our zodiac into the mudroom where we were greeted with a Champagne toast and dodged the impressive unloading of the passenger luggage and ship stores.
The mandatory lifeboat drill was conducted while our somehow sorted luggage found it's way to the assigned cabins.
A Champagne dinner was followed with a humorous introduction to the expedition staff and our "subject-to-frequent-change" program. It was quickly evident that Sandy and I were the only newbies to sailing with Lindblad and National Geographic. Almost all of our fellow passengers had done numerous other trips and could only rave about our upcoming adventure.
Who knew what time or day it was at home, We crashed in the brightness of the arctic "night" to be rocked to sleep as the ship cruised out Kangerlussuaq fiord at 15K.
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