Here is a partial map of North America. Churchill sits right on the Hudson Bay about 59 degrees north. Please read this webblog from the bottom up, as the latest entry is on the very top.... Have fun !

And on that very last night we got lucky one more time. Wally called us out around midnight to show us these northern lights ! They typically can be seen from November to March, but we were treated to an early preview !! What a way to say goodbye !!
Photo by Michael Poliza

The seaplane took us back to Churchill. Note Wally's Lodge in the background, where we spent another night...
Photo by Michael Poliza

But all good times have to come to an end. So it's time to say goodbye to our new friends, the Webber family: Alyson, Doug & Mike with Ian (2nd from right)...
Photo by Michael Poliza

There was so much to see !
Photo by Michael Poliza

What an amazing time we had !! (Sabi and myself)
Photo by Dennis Fast

Belugas are born brownish grey and only turn white when they become sexually mature with about 5-6 years.
Photo by Michael Poliza

It was amazing, belugas everywhere!!
Photo by Michael Poliza

..and on the way back to the lodge we got very lucky: Belugas in crystal clear water, rubbing their bellies on the rocks to shed some old skin...
Photo by Michael Poliza

There was a lot more to see from the air: Canada Geese by the thousands...
Photo by Sabine Raab

some of the males started to feel each other out. Mating season is not far away...
Photo by Michael Poliza

..and found plenty of bears...
Photo by Michael Poliza

We flew over beautiful coastline just 25kms north of the lodge...
Photo by Michael Poliza

But now Sabi and I got excited so we chartered the seaplane to go on an aerial expedition to Point Hubbard, where quite a few bears were seen lately !
Photo by Michael Poliza

Always being close monitored by the resident arctic squirrels...
Photo by Michael Poliza

..but soon the lost interest and retreated a couple of hundred feet away to chill a bit...
Photo by Michael Poliza

and another sniff...
Photo by Michael Poliza

a candid look inside the window....
Photo by Michael Poliza

until they were directly in front of the house. (and we behind safe windows inside or on the spotting tower)
Photo by Michael Poliza

to check out the smell of humans...
Photo by Michael Poliza

they came closer and closer....
Photo by Michael Poliza

One morning it finally happened. A mother and two cubs were on the way to the lodge to check out what's going on...
Photo by Michael Poliza

patterns of nature
Photo by Michael Poliza

It's not like there are Polar Bears everywhere. But if you see them you want to be careful. They are huge and can be quite inquisitive to put it in a nice way....That's why the guides ( this is Ian) always carry weapons and bear bangers with them...
Photo by Michael Poliza

after all the Polar bear is classified as a Marine Mammal. It loves the icy water.
Photo by Sabine Raab

when the ice in the Hudson Bay breaks up in the summer the bears swim back to land. They are excellent swimmers and often they cover a distance of more than a hundred miles (160 km)
Photo by Michael Poliza

if you are not on a hike or on the water, you might do a very special Tundra buggy tour. This way you can cover more distance on the ever ongoing search for the Polar Bears....
Photo by Michael Poliza

you do not often see the flukes coming out of the water...
Photo by Sabine Raab

nothing wrong with a beluga at sunset...
Photo by Michael Poliza

The lodge has Kayaks available for guest use at any time. This is another great way to get close to the belugas...
Photo by Michael Poliza

unless you prefer to be carried back to land by Ian...
Photo by Michael Poliza

There is quite a tidal range, and if there is much to see on the water, you might be coming too late to drive the boat all the way back to the lodge. Then it's a quick walk in shallow waters.
Photo by Michael Poliza

this one is swimming belly up to check out the prop. Apparently they like the prop wash, as they often swim right into it...
Photo by Michael Poliza

they come very close - sometime even let you touch them - but keep in mind the water is mostly quite murky...
Photo by Michael Poliza

You are actually slowly towed behind the ZODIAC with your feet in a loose sling. The whales are quite curious and are certain to check you out...

but first you need to get the air out of the suit...
Photo by Michael Poliza

If you are brave enough to face the cold water, you can jump into a dry suit and snorkel with the belugas.
Photo by Michael Poliza

Weather permitting the guests - the lodge holds a max of 12 - will go out on ZODIACs to look for those Beluga whales in the mouth of the Seal River.
Photo by Michael Poliza

Here is part of the Seal River Lodge Team. Brandon, Ian, Mike & Dennis (from left to right). Mike and his wife Jeannie own and manage the Lodge. Ian & Brandon are guiding the Zodiac tours and Dennis is the resident Photographer...
Photo by Michael Poliza

The lodge is allmost surrounded by Fire weed. And lots of Arctic Ground Squirrels are hanging out there as well...
Photo by Michael Poliza

In the few weeks of summer, the sub arctic Tundra turns very colorful...
Photo by Michael Poliza

In July the Fire weed is in full bloom. Would it not be great to see a Polar Bear walking right through these purple-pink flowers....
Photo by Michael Poliza

The Seal River Heritage Lodge itself is directly on the Hudson Bay.
Photo by Michael Poliza

The 35 minute flight was over in no time and we landed on Swan Lake near the Seal River Lodge just as the sun was setting. Which by the way only happens around 2200hrs (10pm)...
Photo by Michael Poliza

We even saw two wolfs running over the Tundra.
Photo by Michael Poliza

It was a beautiful low level flight over the Tundra with amazing waters and river mouths.
Photo by Michael Poliza

After a two nights in town, we were ready to check out the Wilderness. Sabi and I jumped on the Webber Lodge's float plane, loaded lots of gear and provisions and were enroute to the Seal River...
Photo by Michael Poliza

If you are lucky there might even be a rainbow in the background....
Photo by Sabine Raab

They might come right up to you and feel you out. This one swam directly next to the boat for a few minutes and kept on checking what we were doing. The photo was taken from the boat through the water. But keep in mind that the waters are not always this clear.
Photo by Michael Poliza

They are quite curious and will often visit you close to the boat...
Photo by Michael Poliza