Lowe Inlet
After cruising 42 nautical miles north, the National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor in the Lowe Inlet Marine Park. With the early morning stretch class underway on the bridge deck, at first light to the surrounding scenery, we began to wonder if much had changed here since her namesake the Scotsman, Thomas Lowe, set eyes on the Inlet nearly two centuries ago. The soaring pine trees blanketed the surrounding mountains, protecting us like natural walls of moss and snow. A subtle murmur of a hidden waterfall and the sun peering over the mountains both drenched us in the glow of calm, glassy waters and blue sky.
Off on the right foot, we hop tailed it from the ship to explore the marine park by foot, kayak and zodiac cruise. The cool breeze and morning sun shone brightly as we traversed, paddled and cruised through virgin territory, perhaps similar to the explorers long ago. Sharing sightings of river otters, myrtle warbler, harbor seals, steller’s jays, and nesting tree swallows, we listened to lessons of glaciation, the natural history of how this small section of British Columbia came to be so unique. We returned to the ship in awe of nature and her discovery.
By early afternoon, we raised anchor and cruised north up the Grenville Channel, or the Alaska Maritime Highway, as it is known by locals. The narrow waterway, flanked with rock cliffs and tall pines, offered the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and cool breeze on the sundeck. With the wind, currents and tides on our side, Captain Coughlin maneuvered the ship through the very narrow passageway to Baker Inlet, a remote and rocky cove. With only a few minutes to enjoy the cove before the slack tide’s retreat, the Harbor Seals watched as we departed the cove, to continue our passage north.
Just before sunset, we gathered together again to share the stories of the day. We reveled in the treasured experiences that a day at sea on the National Geographic Sea Bird brought us - a glimpse of the past, the natural wonders of the present, and a positive nod to the future. The evidence that a world seldom visited still exists on Earth, left pristine and protected by the blessed few that have enjoyed it before us and fought to protect it. A lesson to us and to humanity, that we can live and survive on Earth leaving so little a mark, but at the same time leaving so much more to share. And we sailed on toward Alaska.
After cruising 42 nautical miles north, the National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor in the Lowe Inlet Marine Park. With the early morning stretch class underway on the bridge deck, at first light to the surrounding scenery, we began to wonder if much had changed here since her namesake the Scotsman, Thomas Lowe, set eyes on the Inlet nearly two centuries ago. The soaring pine trees blanketed the surrounding mountains, protecting us like natural walls of moss and snow. A subtle murmur of a hidden waterfall and the sun peering over the mountains both drenched us in the glow of calm, glassy waters and blue sky.
Off on the right foot, we hop tailed it from the ship to explore the marine park by foot, kayak and zodiac cruise. The cool breeze and morning sun shone brightly as we traversed, paddled and cruised through virgin territory, perhaps similar to the explorers long ago. Sharing sightings of river otters, myrtle warbler, harbor seals, steller’s jays, and nesting tree swallows, we listened to lessons of glaciation, the natural history of how this small section of British Columbia came to be so unique. We returned to the ship in awe of nature and her discovery.
By early afternoon, we raised anchor and cruised north up the Grenville Channel, or the Alaska Maritime Highway, as it is known by locals. The narrow waterway, flanked with rock cliffs and tall pines, offered the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and cool breeze on the sundeck. With the wind, currents and tides on our side, Captain Coughlin maneuvered the ship through the very narrow passageway to Baker Inlet, a remote and rocky cove. With only a few minutes to enjoy the cove before the slack tide’s retreat, the Harbor Seals watched as we departed the cove, to continue our passage north.
Just before sunset, we gathered together again to share the stories of the day. We reveled in the treasured experiences that a day at sea on the National Geographic Sea Bird brought us - a glimpse of the past, the natural wonders of the present, and a positive nod to the future. The evidence that a world seldom visited still exists on Earth, left pristine and protected by the blessed few that have enjoyed it before us and fought to protect it. A lesson to us and to humanity, that we can live and survive on Earth leaving so little a mark, but at the same time leaving so much more to share. And we sailed on toward Alaska.
