I am at a loss figuring out how to post about my Kinfish expedition…
Here are my random thoughts from my travel-addled brain…arrived home only about 12 hours ago…
Expedition: I asked our captain, Robin, how he defines an expedition. He said it’s an exploration with a start, perhaps a key date/sight, and an end. We started from Longyearbyen, Svalbard on August 5, targeted East Greenland for the total solar eclipse on August 12, and disembarked in Akureyri, Iceland on August 17. For those 12 days, we wandered, looking for daily treats of fjords, icebergs, animals, etc. An expedition differs from a cruise in that Kinfish is a 12 passenger-10 crew vessel nimble enough to take us where the conditions allow. Robin and our astute and resourceful guides, Lauren and Alex, plotted each day’s journey after considering weather, ice, distance, sights… A cruise has a set itinerary; an expedition takes you wherever there’s something intriguing.
Background: My friend Nanine is an eclipse chaser. I am not. Nonetheless, I have learned – as have Francie and Peggy, two other Nanine friends – to say “yes” to Nanine when she proposes an adventure. Three years ago, Nanine and Francie explored Svalbard with Robin on Kinfish. Afterward, she suggested (nudged, prodded, begged!) Robin to put together an eclipse trip to East Greenland for the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse. Robin, a talented, competent, and adventurous seafarer, loves a challenge! We had no idea the amount of work he had to put into creating this trip, but he did it. So many permits, so much planning, so many obstacles! When they first learned that Robin was planning an eclipse expedition, Lauren and Alex reached out to Robin requesting (imploring!) to be the guides on this trip. What a team! Robin, Alex, and Lauren: our expedition leaders who, together, made this dream into forever memories!
People: The 12 guests and 10 crew quickly coalesced into a community. Although each crew member had a specific job, they all supported each other while making the experience exciting, fun, and safe for everyone. The environment Captain Robin creates centers around his selecting competent, kind, and service-oriented crew members. Every crew member helped each other and guests, answered our many questions, and created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Although Hospitality Chief Linn’s main job was to take excellent care of the guests – which she absolutely did with grace, generosity, and heart! – the entire team contributed to the overall loveliness and comfort of Kinfish. And my fellow guests…wow! Wonderful, intelligent, adventurous people! At meals, deliciously prepared by Chef Roger, it didn’t matter where one sat as the friendship and conversation never lagged. Laughter and stories ensued throughout the expedition.
The Bridge: The heart and epicenter of Kinfish is the bridge. On some vessels, only designated personnel are allowed on the bridge. On Kinfish, everyone is not only allowed but encouraged to hang out on the bridge. This is where Robin and First Mate Sarah shared duties, each taking six hour shifts. In addition to steering the ship, they also taught whomever wanted to learn about the monitors and instruments and invited us to sit in the second chair. Whenever anyone saw a polar bear…or a magnificent iceberg…or a family of musk oxen…Lauren or Alex would make an announcement over the PA, and most guests would run (well, as much as one can on those steep steps!) up to the bridge. With cameras in hand, we’d open windows, step outside, or shoot through windows to capture the scene someone on the bridge found for us. During slow times, we’d often hang out on the bridge, chatting, exchanging stories, laughing, learning.
Weather: Arctic weather in the summer…cold but not freezing. Layers. Lots of layers! We didn’t have rain, although the most cloudy day was August 12, the day of the eclipse 🌒. What we felt, though, was the rolling and pitching of the water, especially when we crossed from Svalbard to Greenland. Robin guided us to the north, just shy of 80°N, connecting Kinfish with pack ice to reduce currents and swells. Until we got there, though, wowza! That ship was a rockin’ and a rollin’! Thank goodness for Scopolamine, the motion sickness patches I wore throughout the trip. Although I felt the ship’s movement, I never felt sick. The second night onboard when it was the worst, I didn’t feel ill; I did feel, though, a bit scared. It was my first time on a small ship under those conditions. I had confidence that everything was going to be okay, and I was a little freaked. In the morning when we found the pack ice, everything calmed down, including my fears.
Itinerary: Instead of doing a daily post, I’m going to sort my photos (and there are many!) into categories. Below is the itinerary.
Photos: My photos are grouped by topic rather than day.
- Kinfish: Vessel and life on board
- So many polar bears!
- Lots of animals!
- Icebergs: big and beautiful!
- Ice: A variety of frozen water!
- Arctic scenery at its finest
- “Stop wasting your time looking at the bear and look at these plants!”
- A miscellany of human-based photos
- Kinfish Community
- A few photos of me 😊
- I almost forgot: The Eclipse!!!
