AW: best bike ride, ever. PIP

[Deleted]

So, I went to Svalbard last weekend. About as close as you can get to the North Pole without needing sponsorship, and while there I rode a fat bike. A proper fat bike. Over snow, ice and rocks. Stopped for lunch near the beach where it snowed lightly and I ate hot black currant juice by a frozen lake (all very odd given it is summer). 
Here's the bike. And me, wearing three pairs of leggings.

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Unfortunately not all our adventures were without issue. We took a boat to see a glacier, two hours sailing from home. Saw a polar bear, but then hit rocks, listed severely to one side and started taking on water. Had to be rescued. Captain was sacked, £100k of damage to the boat. Oops. Did make national Norwegian news though.
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[CallingAllAngels]

That looks gorgeous! OMG to the boat disaster. Thank goodness you are okay, but how scary.

[trigal]

I'm officially jealous! I would love a fat bike!! And to go to the North Pole!

However, I would NOT like to have to be rescued off the boat!

[biomaj5]

That sounds like both an awesome and terrifying trip! Glad you're ok!

[reginaphalange72]

Sounds amazing! (Minus the boat mishap, of course. Glad you're okay!)

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone! Yes, was a bit scary. My husband has a masters degree in naval architecture and marine engineering, so when he was worried, I knew things were truly shit. Still, we are fine and it didn't kill the mood for the whole weekend.

Also went sea kayaking and saw a seal who was super curious about our tour group.

Now planning a new trip. Thinking Greenland...?

[InBetweenDays]

What an adventure!

[clseale]

So awesome! This is the trip where you were required to carry a gun, because it's so wild & rustic & OMG a bear might eat me, yes?? Fun! LOL

Sorry about the boat, though! Glad you're OK.

[hannahb]

So so awesome!

[lb2006]

Jun 4, 2014 13:58:59 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Thanks everyone! Yes, was a bit scary. My husband has a masters degree in naval architecture and marine engineering, so when he was worried, I knew things were truly shit. Still, we are fine and it didn't kill the mood for the whole weekend.

Also went sea kayaking and saw a seal who was super curious about our tour group.

Now planning a new trip. Thinking Greenland...?

this would've freaked me out. 

[G22]

Holy crap about the boat! But the rest of your trip sounds like a blast!

[bostonmichelle]

Sounds like an awesome trip minus the boat mishap!

[sadlebred]

The fat bike looks like so much fun! The boat accident not so much...

[thom]

This sounds like such a neat trip!! I remember you talking about looking forward to it awhile back.

You look awesome on that bike; you were made for it. Sorry about the boat snafu; scary stuff. So glad you made it back safely and still enjoyed your trip so much. My heritage is over 1/2 Norwegian, and I'd love to see that part of the world someday.

[Deleted]

Jun 4, 2014 14:26:17 GMT -5 clseale said:

So awesome! This is the trip where you were required to carry a gun, because it's so wild & rustic & OMG a bear might eat me, yes?? Fun! LOL

Sorry about the boat, though! Glad you're OK.

Yes! By law if you leave the town you must carry a gun in case you need to shoot a polar bear. Seeing people wandering around the place with rifles was freaky enough for me.
Also, many buildings you walk into make you take your shoes off. I like that.

[libbygrl109]

Looks like such an amazing trip, minus the boat fiasco. Glad you had a great time and got back safely.

[runblondie26]

What incredible experiences! Thank goodness everything turned out OK with the ship. Glad you had a fun time.

[shauni27]

what a crazy cool experience! Except for the whole boat about to sink in the middle of the north pole part...

[emuni04]

So cool, but OMG about the boat! How scary!