Prince Harry: Men in Tights, Spitsbergen

Well, this is It. The most northern settlement in the world. 78 degrees and 13 minutes north.

This morning at 6am, when I first went making bait for polar bears, it was a balmy minus 30C in the shade. Gateshead girls might use bus-shelters for protection, but up here it is more extreme. Special measures are required.

I have travelled via Oslo

more trees than you could shake a stick at

and Trondheim

and Bodo by train,

Hurtigruten to Tromso

and now Longyearbyen (named after an early 20th century American mine owner). The further north, the better the weather, but the worse the temperature. Apparently, Prince Harry is here, but he hasn't popped in to say hello, which is a little inconsiderate. Skidoo ride planned this afternoon, with an armed guard, to defend against bears or Russians, I know not