Heading back

Did you know that a group of walrus is called an ‘ugly’? I certainly didn’t. Even though they are very big and clumsy and just a bit smelly, they are majestic creatures especially in the water where they no longer look clumsy or awkward.

We were able to go on land to view a big colony of walrus and we were allowed to get within 150 metres so quite close. They kept us amused – it’s like watching big dogs playing as they rolled, scratched and pushed each other around. They pretty much ignored us.

It’s hard to cover all the things we saw on the Greg Mortimer. The time didn’t pass too quickly and still we were doing quite a lot each day from lectures to landings, watching wildlife or doing after dinner trips on the zodiacs. We were informed about the history of the arctic and the amazing plant and animal life there and how important it is to protect it.

The landscape never disappointed – with stunning glaciers and multi-coloured rock formations, every morning gave us a different vista.

When we eventually got to Longyearbyen to leave the crew behind we were all a little sad that it was over. And, grateful we weren’t on one of the massive big ships like the one in port when we landed.

A few days with a good friend from England in Oslo and it was all over and I was on my way home ready to plan the next adventure.Read more