Woodfjorden - Monday 7/11

The ship continued Northward, crossing latitude 80 North in the night. At 6 AM we entered Woodfjorden and almost immediately one of the spotters on the bridge picked out the first polar bear on the shore. What looked like a white rock through the binoculars or the viewfinder of my camera was clearly a sleeping polar bear when viewed thru the high powered spotting scope. Over the next 2 1/2 hours of cruising past the shore we spotted five more bears including a mother with two yearling cubs. Some were close enough to capture with my long zoom lens.

Number three wandered along the shore showing off his profile directly and in reflection. Eventually he entered the water and began swimming toward the ship. Obviously the captain is so familiar with the wildlife and with his ship that he knows exactly how to create the perfect platform for viewing. We slowed so that the bear could pull alongside and examine us while we enjoyed his power & grace. After many looks & sniffs the bear decided we were not very interesting so he swam off into the distance.
After dinner the ship reached the northern-most part or our journey at 80° 37' before turning further Eastward to visit Monson Island.
See Photo Gallery