Day 13

Day 11 Thursday

I saw the Northern lights from our bedroom window last night, not as vibrant as the 1^st time I saw them but more spread out. No idea what time this was but I went back to sleep listening to Evan snoring away.

Our wake up was at 7.30am. Breakfast at 8am.

Our group was the 1^st to head on down to the Mudroom to suit up for a Zodiac tour around all the ice being pushed off the glacier. The ship tried to find a route through the ice to continue on to the Red Island . Its a no go as its too thick, but we got some amazing pictures of the ship going through and keeping up with us on the Zodiacs. You really cant say seen one iceberg seen them all. Its just mind boggling and so amazing to see. The colours in the ice and the water is so clear you can see the bergs underneath for so far underneath. There was lots of fresh ice sheets forming so we were told it should start freezing all over by the end of next month to November. We where put back on the ship so that group 2 could experience what we just did. So we are having warm drinks and catching up on our blog.

After lunch we were back on the Zodiac's to another stretch on land. Split up into Strenuous, moderate and Leisurely. Evan and Terri did Moderate and Greg and I did Leisurely. To be honest it was a bit boring but I did give my knee a rest. I was talking to Guy ( one of the guides) and also another Passenger Glenys who is from Singapore. We both talked about doing the Polar dip this afternoon. I am no longer undecided, god help me!!

We walked back to the zodiac to get suited back up . As we were standing there a Arctic Hare ran past us....It was looking at a very large white Easter Bunny. He was soooooo cute!!!

Back to the ship through very thick sheet ice....love listening to it crack.

Had a warm drink and a cookie while waiting for Evan.

5pm was D time. Quickly got changed into our bathers and headed on down. I was very NERVOUS, my teeth were chattering so much I thought they were going to fall out!!

We started on the port side and we were standing around for a while, which didn’t help anyone’s nerves!!! Then we were asked to go to the starboard side. Evan was about the 6^th One to take the plunge and I was 8^th. I so nearly didn’t do it. But I did do it and I have to say I have never ever been so bloody cold in all my life!!! Walked up the ladder to be met by everyone cheering and I had a shot of this god awful stuff and a towel wrapped around my shoulders.....Evan and I headed off to the Sauna. Then off to have a very hot shower and put some warm clothes back on.

Dinner tonight was a BBQ on deck over looking the icebergs and ice floating all around us. An a mazing experience...in the back ground the music was very South American.....Cheers and Bon Appetite.