Cruising and Green Inlet, British Columbia, Canada, 5/3/2017, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
Getting a sense of place can take days or a moment. It is definitely expedited waking up in the singular environment that is British Columbia, surrounded by the new smells, sights and sounds of the temperate rainforest meeting the intertidal zone that will become increasingly familiar over the rest of our voyage.
One steady constant in Ian’s life has been the ocean. Born by the rocky shores of mid-coast Maine, his family repatriated to far north Queensland in Australia early on in his life where he became a dual-citizen and sparked his passion for exploring n...
We enjoyed sunny skies this morning at anchorage in Tenedos Bay, Desolation Sound. Our first full day started ashore with hikes of various difficulties, including a long hike that traversed the island. Kayak and Zodiac tours explored the bay, viewing birds and harbor seals hauled out on rocks. The afternoon was filled with sunbathing and looking for wildlife. Spirits were high as National Geographic Sea Bird transited north searching for charismatic megafauna on our way to Alert Bay.
The winds howled and the rain ran in Alaska today. National Geographic Sea Lion and her people sailed the Inside Passage from the mouth of Glacier Bay, down Chatham Straight, through Sergius Narrows to eventually make it to our destination, Sitka. Along the way we saw soggy bald eagles, drenched Sitka black tail deer, and submerged Dall’s porpoise. In Sitka, we visited the National Historical Park, also known as Totem Pole Park. We braved the squalls and the heavy rain to walk amongst the beautiful trees and witness the poles and artifacts of the Tlingit peoples that still call this land home. It was a magnificent way to end a wonderful journey.
The waters surrounding Bartlett Cove were so calm this morning that we could see the reflection of the National Park Visitor Center Lodge on the ocean. Bright and early, we hiked into a magical part of the Tongass National Forest. Although there was a chill in the air, no precipitation came until much later in the day, just before dinner. Soon after our departure from Bartlett Cove, wildlife was all around us! Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, northern sea otters, and tufted puffins all graced us with their presence along South Marble Island. Later, in Geikie Inlet, we spotted not one, but two bears! An American black bear and a coastal brown bear. We came across dozens of goats at Gloomy Knob and even a northern marmot. Margerie Glacier greeted us just before dinner as National Geographic Sea Lion bobbed amongst the ice. What a fantastic day in Glacier Bay National Park.
