Alaskan Sun
We awoke to bright blue skies cruising in to Sitkoh Bay, a fairly large inlet of Chichagof Island. The sunny morning not only welcomed us into the bay but provided a gathering spot for three Brown Bears on the coastline. We first spotted the one Brown Bear, and to our delight, and perhaps his, he was soon joined by a sow and her two cubs off in the distance. Through the spotting scope, we could see the mother and kin eagerly chomping on Alaska’s fresh grasses. Being early spring, grasses are one of the only foods available for the bears, as they emerge from hibernation. Their focused munching reminded us of our empty bellies, so as we waved farewell and cruised on, we excitedly moseyed down to enjoy our breakfast, grateful for more choices than grass.
After an energizing meal and a briefing on hiking in (proven) bear country, we were invited to either join a hike in to the surrounding Tongass National Forest or to pick up a paddle and kayak our way around the bay. Some even traded their paddles in mid-morning for a walking stick and eclipsed both opportunities to experience the abundant nature around us.
By lunch, we returned to the ship, refreshed and enlivened, after a morning of fresh air and exploration. We raised anchor, and started our journey north into Chatham Strait, but not without numerous wildlife sightings like dall’s porpoises and humpback whales. Amidst the sunset, we found a group of humpback whales plunging deep into the water, then swirling to the surface with mouths gaping open, a form of feeding known as bubble- net.
At the closing of the day, with the sun still sparkling off the waters around us, we gathered in the lounge for cocktail hour. With rosy cheeks and broad smiles, there was a glistening aura, a collective awe aboard the NG Sea Bird, apparent only after the first day of a voyage in Alaska, a land so vast, so virgin and so uniquely invaluable.
We awoke to bright blue skies cruising in to Sitkoh Bay, a fairly large inlet of Chichagof Island. The sunny morning not only welcomed us into the bay but provided a gathering spot for three Brown Bears on the coastline. We first spotted the one Brown Bear, and to our delight, and perhaps his, he was soon joined by a sow and her two cubs off in the distance. Through the spotting scope, we could see the mother and kin eagerly chomping on Alaska’s fresh grasses. Being early spring, grasses are one of the only foods available for the bears, as they emerge from hibernation. Their focused munching reminded us of our empty bellies, so as we waved farewell and cruised on, we excitedly moseyed down to enjoy our breakfast, grateful for more choices than grass.
After an energizing meal and a briefing on hiking in (proven) bear country, we were invited to either join a hike in to the surrounding Tongass National Forest or to pick up a paddle and kayak our way around the bay. Some even traded their paddles in mid-morning for a walking stick and eclipsed both opportunities to experience the abundant nature around us.
By lunch, we returned to the ship, refreshed and enlivened, after a morning of fresh air and exploration. We raised anchor, and started our journey north into Chatham Strait, but not without numerous wildlife sightings like dall’s porpoises and humpback whales. Amidst the sunset, we found a group of humpback whales plunging deep into the water, then swirling to the surface with mouths gaping open, a form of feeding known as bubble- net.
At the closing of the day, with the sun still sparkling off the waters around us, we gathered in the lounge for cocktail hour. With rosy cheeks and broad smiles, there was a glistening aura, a collective awe aboard the NG Sea Bird, apparent only after the first day of a voyage in Alaska, a land so vast, so virgin and so uniquely invaluable.
