It's cold today in Vancouver.
At least in comparison with yesterday. Temperature dropped from 29 C to 20 C overnight. In addition: no sun and overcast but fortunately no rain forecasted.

A short to my breakfast joint ( Nelson the Seagull ) in Gastown where poached eggs on toasted sourdough bead started the day for me and with a nice flat white on the side I was ready in a jiffy.

The 19 trolley bus just around corner brought me to Stanley Park where a nice relaxing tor in a horse drawn carriage. Two big shirehorses ( Tim & Bob ) pulled our coach along the seashore and across to the fantastic rose gardens.

On my way back into town I jumped of at Robson, one of the main shopping streets. Besides the almost obligatory Starbucks and McDonalds and the international labels there are quite a number of Canadian shops.

With this in mind I choose "Blenz", a local coffee chain, for a nice cup of coffee and a brownie.

A nice walk along the seashore from Stanley Park back to Canada Place was the last of my adventures on this Friday.

With only a brownie for lunch I was longing for something a bit more substantial for dinner and followed the recommendation of a fellow passenger on the ship and went to a tiny local steak house: a nice t-bone, cooked medium-rare with veggies and fries on the side.
Fantastic !

BTW: Later tonight ( at 20:55 ) I have to check-in. Tomorrow is my last day in Canada.


O.K. all done, checked in.

Now lets hope the flight is on time !!



Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here

The world is a village !

On my view for breakfast this morning I met two of the Hurtigruten Expedition people, we had a little chat and then our ways departed.

After the "cold" weather in Alaska the temperature in Vancouver is in comparison hot with 28 C.
So after a warm hoodie during parts of the voyage a t-shirt and shorts are now much more appropriate.

After a a little stroll along Canada Place I discovered that no cruise ships are docking which is a blessing because then the town is not so crowded with tourists and at the main tourist places are no long queues.

O.K. then lets make that to ones advantage and cross the water with the ferry to Lonsdale, jump and the 236 Bus for Grouse Mountain but get off at the Caprilano Suspension Bridge Park.

This suspension bridge dates back to 1889 when it was build to get loggers from one side of the canyon to the other. These days its a main tourist attraction with the bridge itself, a tree walk and a high walk along the canyon.

Walking across the bridge was worse then the rough sea I experienced during my voyage but it was still fun.


ViewTicket

On my way back I stopped at Lonsdale Quay to soak up the view of the Vancouver Skyline before heading again to the other side, jump on the Skytrain and head for Metrotown to do some little shopping at this huge shopping mall.


Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here

After we left yesterday afternoon St Lawrence Island the RA headed straight for Nome ( Alaska ), the final stop for me and actually almost all passengers. Almost ? Yes a few are continuing they your along the North-East-Passage heading for Halifax or Boston where they will disembark.

For me the last day on the ship will start with waking up at 6:30 a.m. ( I have to set my alarm ), morning shower and then breakfast, the last meal on the ship. Packing the last things into my hand-luggage……..

Belonging to disembarkation group "Blue" I left the shift with a farewell in my mind at around 8:00

and again we have shuttled with local school busses 🚌 into town where several local agents greeted us at the local Nome Convention Centre and explained how to "kill the time" until we will get shuttled to the local airport:



Everything was very well organised and even a lunch was served in a local church "Old St Joes" church, these days a local assembly hall.
Nome itself is not very big and as you will see from the pictures not a very exciting place. Great was the local museum with displays of the local people and the town significance in gold mining, something what is still done on an industrial basis.
Wyatt Earp, I learned, was a local sheriff for some time in Nome.

Soon the time arrived to go to the airport. Airport, yes it is an airport with two commercial flights every day to Anchorage and one freight flight every other day. The terminal is small with about 30 seats. Now imagine a ship with roughly 350 passengers departing.
No wonder Hurtigruten had to do that in 3 stages with 3 charter flights. On these three arriving flights new passengers for the Roald Amundsen are arriving through this tiny airport. Chatting to one of the ground staff ladies whilst waiting I learned that they had this excitement already three times this year, usually its 4-6 times a year.

Bang on time our flight departed for Vancouver and thanks to Hurtigruten we have been served with food and drinks on the flight, normally one has to p[ay for that !

Arrival in VC was on time ( 20:15 ) , immigration and waiting for my suitcase was not long and by about 21:15 I reached my hotel.


Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here

Yesterday ( 22.8.2022 ) we learned during our evening lecture " Tomorrow Information" that we will have a surprise landing on St Lawrence Island.
Something not advertised in our original itinerary for this voyage. Hurrah !!

Sunset in this region at this time of the year is very late: yesterday it was at 23:01



Another interesting thing has happened this morning at 2:30 am

No, I did not set my alarm to "experience" this. Just a short time travel anyway.

St Lawrence Island is only 58 km away from Russia. In case you want to know more this island click here

Thick fog this morning when I woke up and one could not see the Island. Weather is miserable, no sun so I decided to skip this very last excursion and have a relaxing morning onboard.

Soon after lunch ( I am skipping that as well ) when we are leaving St Lawrence Island to head for our final stop, Nome, I will attend some lectures:
- Technical aspects of MS Roald Amundsen
- Virtual tour behind the scenes and who is what
- Climate Change - Reasons for Hope
- Captain's Farewell

And then: packing ! Luggage has to be put in front of ones cabin door by 22:00 latest

Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here

Weather forecast for today: sunny ☀️, light wind and NO rain. Hurrah !

Our excursion with the zodiac boats to the island will go ahead unless something unforeseen happens.

Woke up to a glorious start of the day

sunshine all around.

During breakfast the sun went up even further and by the time it was my turn for the trip by zodiac boats to St Matthew Island the sun was up in full.

After a short ride in the boat the uninhabited island was reached and we had to climb out of the boat with water reaching almost up to ones lower calfs. Then we had about an hours to explore this remote island in the Bering Sea.

Vegetation: no tress, tundra like. One has the feeling of walking on a sponge and it was interesting to see how nature tries to bloom in this rough climate.

The members of the expedition team told that todays landing was the first of the season as during all previous voyages the weather was against landing on the island. So I was very lucky.

It was also interesting to see what kind of rubbish is been washed ashore and they asked us to bring back to our landing site as much as possible as it would be taken away from the island. Look at the pictures to see what we all found.

Later today I will have my scheduled visit off bridge, something I am looking forward to as well.

And this was very interesting as well. The captain gave us a sort introduction ( in laymen's terms ) about how the RA is been steered and what actually "Hybrid Power" means. The Diesel engines are obviously responsible for moving the ship but surplus energy they are producing is stored in two large batteries so that in case of need this stored power can also be used. With all electrical system, lights etc. on the batteries could, in case of engine failure, generate enough power to move the ship for about ½ h. If all electrical are switched off for about 1 h, enough he said, to get the ship out of danger.
No wheel anymore, basically a comfy chair with some joysticks. Communication is done via Wi-Fi ( satellite ) and only North-East/WEst passage conventional radio is been used due to very bad or no connection it all.
The visit on the bridge didn't last very long but was more then interesting.

What I also learned these days that the RA has a de-salination plant on board so that fresh water does not need to be bunkered in ports which is considering the small harbours / towns no drain on the local resources.
All waste water from the cabins showers and wash-basins is filtered on board and then pumped into the sea.
In short: very environmentally friendly and following Hurtigruten's mission of sustainability.

Later today I have to attend the information lecture for tomorrow ( something did very day anyway ) because for tomorrow they have a surprise for us.
Watch this space.

Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here