THE PASSAGE OF THE ICE- August 21st, 2014

We woke at 7.30 am as the engines kicked into gear. Then we were told that we were making our first attempt at Bellow Straits. The ice breaker had gone through and said we could make it and was waiting at the end of the strait. Then another announcement of TWO POLARS bears on the port side. However, they were quite a distance and we could not go in close as it was too shallow. As we started into the Bellot straight we had two more polar bear sightings. Ken spotted one before it was announced but once the attempt at piercing the ice was started then was no stopping. The ice and currents only allowed for full steam ahead.
We slowly went through the Bellot straight and weaved in between the ice and clear water, sometimes going straight through the ice as there was no other alternative. We could see the ice breaker in the distance and at that moment we saw blue sky and sun. It was so nice to see the sun

Once we got out of the Bellot Strait we realized the difference in the thickness of the ice in the Peel Sound. We could never have made it without the ice breaker. We are now following the ice breaker. Initially it left a path of water in the wake but now it is simply breaking up the ice into smaller pieces allowing us passage. We all spend the morning up in the observation lounge and outside, boy was it cold out of the wind and in the sun sure helped but that was not where we could stand for the view of the icebreaker. We did take some group shots of those that were around I hope they come out.

I came down to my cabin on deck 3 and the noise of the ice hitting the ship is far louder than I would have expected. Looking out the window the pieces are large some look to be about 3 to 4 ft thick, perhaps more with some the ice under the ship. It looks like some clear water in-between the ice but we were told that is simply melting and it is ice underneath.

As I am writing this another announcement THREE MORE POLAR BEARS sighted on the starboard side and then a few minutes later TWO MORE POLAR BEARS on the port side. We would love to go closer but we cannot stop our ice transit or we might get a bit stuck. No stopping at this point. The ice is getting much thicker with ridges of older ice all over the place. These can be an issue for the ice breaker. This is absolutely amazing I am going back upstairs again. No way to describe this at all it has to be experienced.

Great day and we will be in the ice for another full day before the icebreaker leaves us. We are now up to SIXTEEN POLAR BEARS sighted. Some of these are really too far away to take photos and you can only see them with binoculars but they sure are around here.




The Helicopter leaves the ice breaker to check for the safest route. He goes out 50 miles.




Helicopter returns.




Anna & Arlene.