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Aug 11, 2019 - National Geographic Sea Lion
Guests aboard National Geographic Sea Lion arose this morning to a misty dawn as we entered Chatham Strait. Steller sea lions hauled out on the channel buoy and bald eagles stood sentry on the shorelines. We observed humpback whales on the east side of the straight later in the morning. Several whales were individually bubble net feeding, and a few were logging at the surface and engaging in the occasional pectoral flipper slap. Slap does not seem to be the most apt way to describe this behavior, however, as a 14-foot flipper is a serious piece of lumber when it hits the water.
Sitkoh Bay was our afternoon destination for kayaking and hiking, plus a late afternoon swim for the hardy. The intrepid hikers enjoyed some truly impressive old growth trees in this forest.
An educator at heart, Dan finds great joy in opening doors for others to explore and connect with the world around them. He has taught marine sciences in the Florida Keys and on Catalina Island, and science and math in international schools in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the South Pacific.
As a family growing up in the Finger Lakes region of New York, free time was spent in the outdoors. Dave’s mother, an earth science and biology teacher turned weekend hikes into informative lessons. The beautiful gorges, lakes and forests made a lasting impression.