Magdalenafjorden, near Gullybreen (Gully Glacier).
This afternoon we anchored near Graveyard Peninsula where the remains of dead whalers from a bygone era are interred. Some of us walked the mile and a half along the shore to the edge of Gullybreen and then up its slopes. Others took a Zodiac to the glacier's edge. They were the lucky ones, for they encountered a bearded seal on an ice floe. These seals are the largest seals in the area and weigh up to 800 pounds. In the summer they go through a moult and spend a lot of time out of the cold water to help speed the process along. They are very approachable, as you can see. We took extra care in our approach nonetheless. By the end of the afternoon, guests had traded places and everyone had had a chance to view the animal upclose.
