Svalbard Adventures: Part 3: A Walrus Encounter and a Wave of Adventure: Our Final Day in Isfjord Radio

On our last day at Isfjord Radio, we ate breakfast while watching an adorable arctic fox, fur on the way to turning brown from white, finding a duck egg, and taking it back to his home after calling out to his fellow foxes. Todd, Elizabeth, Grace, and I then decided to take a long hike across the tundra. With our guide, Ivar, and a retired sled dog leading the way, we headed toward a walrus colony. We were told it was an 8-kilometer trek, but it turned out to be 8 kilometers each way, totaling 10 miles. It's good we only figured it out after we were back.

Reindeer joined us along the way, some even followed us. As we got closer to the walrus colony, Ivar told us we'd smell them before we could see them. He was right. We found a group of walruses lounging on the beach, unfazed by our presence. We watched them for a while, saw some walruses swimming, and then took a break to eat our packed lunch.

Our journey back to Longyearbyen turned into an adventure itself. With a rookie at the helm of our open-air boat, things took a turn for the wet! A massive wave crashed over us, soaking us even past our so-called waterproof survival suits. It felt like we were standing in the splash zone of a log flume ride at an amusement park. Yes, we were cold, but we took it in stride, laughing it off as just another chapter in our unforgettable journey.

After another night at the Basecamp Hotel, we flew to London. The fast-paced city was a big change from the calm of Svalbard. We did some sightseeing on a double-decker bus and visited the London Eye, then returned to our hotel to prepare for our flight home the next day. 

        Even though our Arctic journey has come to an end, the distinct charm of Svalbard will remain etched in our memories. Sharing this extraordinary trip with members of our extended family made it even more special.

LONDON: