Woodfjord System
This morning we awoke to glorious sunshine, as the captain brought Endeavour up to Monaco Glacier, the site of our morning activities. Monaco Glacier is located in Leifdefjord; a branch of a larger fjord system called Woodfjord. This tidewater glacier was named after Prince Albert of Monaco, and is over 39-km long, and 5 km broad.
This morning Monaco glacier was talking to us, the ice shifted and groaned, sounding a bit like a thunderstorm. The sound surrounded us as it ricocheted off the mountain walls.
This glacier offers so many opportunities for both Zodiac cruises and kayaking, and we decided to do both. The Zodiac cruisers went out for about an hour and a half, exploring the ice, looking for wildlife, and simply absorbing the enormity of the glacier. All morning the glacier calved, sending huge pieces of ice into the water. This spectacle was made even more fabulous, by the numerous birds that swarmed around the base of the glacier, and were sent into frenzy every time it calved. You see, when the glacier calves, it churns the water, bringing to the surface all types of treats for the various types of gulls and terns that abound here.
The kayakers, some at a leisurely pace and some out for a good workout, made their way from the kayak platform up to the glacier face, keeping a safe distance of course. For a long time there was a line of 15 kayaks sitting at the face of the glacier, enjoying the sites and sounds the glacier had to offer. On the way back to the platform, a special treat greeted them, hot chocolate, (with or without peppermint schnapps), served by our hotel manager and purser.
As we left Leifdefjord, and headed for our afternoon’s landing site, we cruised into another side fjord, Idabreen. Stefan, our expert polar bear finder, alerted us that there was a polar bear ahead, with a freshly killed seal. Captain Skog skillfully maneuvered Endeavour, so all could see this incredible site as close as possible. It was nature at her purest.
Our final landing of the day, Roosflya, is located in Bockjorden. Here there were hikes of various lengths offered for the guests, through wide fields and rolling hills of wildflowers. What a day!! Full of all the good things expeditions are made of.
