Vankarem was great. The expedition staff saw three polar bears on land and the bears all went into the water. So we were able to go ashore. Only 200 people live here. In the months of October to December they can see around 200 polar bears on the ice surrounding the town. Never had a polar bear attack.

The kindergarten kids were great. Our Russian guide was the head of the hunting committee and really a manly man. We had the Russian interpreter from the ship who did a great job. The village was clean with nice small wooden houses. They had a tiny greenhouse to grow vegetables in the summer. They were fishing from the shore with nets and catching really nice salmon.

It was a very interesting experience I really liked the morning. Now we are heading to Wrangel Island. Still a ton of ice around Wrangel Island and we are hoping it will break up before we get there.

Great dinner tonight, rack of lamb outstanding.