Isfjorden 2010 expediton diary

30th July 2010 - just before the midnight three of us are landing in Longyearbyen - SAS flight from Gdansk through Oslo 31st July 2010 - preparation of equipment, fuel, ammo and food shopping. Assembling the boat and engine test. 1st August 2010 - Ideal weather, sunny and calm, we are leaving Longyearbyen towards Isfjord Radio. After less than three hours and use of 15 dm3 of gas we are entering the lagoon at the mouth of Linneelva. After setting the camp, we leave for the evening low water to sample the first NaGISA station. 2nd August 2010 - cloudy, cold, we are leaving for the morning low water for station NaGISA 2 west of Isfjord Radio. Two common seals on the rocks next to the peninsula. Same day evening low water and NaGISA 3 station sampling at Randvika. 3rd August 2010 - cold, calm weather and dense fog on the southern Isfjorden coast. With the GPS navigation we are heading north to the other fjord side to sample crustaceans under the stones - stations NaGISA 4 to 8. Near the camp two empty (looking fresh) shells of Mytilus edulis mixed with old dry kelp on the storm bar. Maria and Lech take a bath in the lagoon - 6°C. 4th August 2010 - cold, foggy, light wind from NW, traveling to Gronfjorden for stations NaGISA 9 to 11. Meeting with Sysselmannen boat on the S part of the fjord. Foot excursion to the Congress lake and fossils hunt. Unsuccessful fishing for cod on the return way. 5th August 2010 - good visibility, light NW wind, traveling to Isfjord Radio for NaGISA 12 -14 stations on the open W coast. Visit to Festingen rock - fossils and birds photograps. 6th August 2010 - fog, moderate wind to fresh breeze 10m/sek from W, NW , packing samples and getting ready to sail to Longyearbyen with the increasing wave. Brief visit to Colesbay, landing at Grumant impossible due to heavy swell, final landing at Moskukslagun, opposite to Longyearbyen. Setting the camp and long walk to Revneset. Empty shell of Mytilus on the shore and fresh frond of boreal Ascophyllum nodosum - apparently drifted from Norway. 7th August 2010 - light W, NW wind, after the breakfast and packing the camp we are leaving for Longyearbyen to join r/v OCEANIA and leave there our collections.