Pavlof Harbor
Let me start at the end, not only the end of our day aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion but the end of our adventure. An adventure that began in the capital of this fair state six days ago and now concludes near its humble beginnings outside of Sitka. While the past six days have brought many firsts, this evening spent cruising south through the calm serpentine waterways of Southeast Alaska was dedicated to the appreciation of all those things and ways in which to carry that appreciate home. Reflecting on wonderful memories is easy to do when sea conditions are pristine, when the evening light rides low over the hillsides and a night full of thanks and appreciation is shared amongst all in various forms of poetry, speech and applause.
Twelve hours before writing this, we were strolling along the riverbanks of Pavlof Harbor on the east coast of Chichagof Island. Through sun breaks and calm weather we examined a beaver lodge, the feeding behavior of a red-crested sap sucker family, pristine marshland and the varied vegetation packed within this riparian environment.
Ten hours before this post we spotted our first whale of the day. A lone humpback greeted us during what was our final Zodiac cruise of the trip and left us eager for more. After four or five surfacing events- complete with lunge feeding behavior and nearly a minute spent floating at the water’s surface- this solitary cetacean made way for deeper waters. We were soon to follow as all had to re-board the National Geographic Sea Lion for our final transit of Chatham Strait and the water ways between Pavlof Harbor and the town Sitka.
Six hours before this post we were headed south when a group of four or five Dall’s Porpoises streamed in from the flanks to take advantage of our bow wake. Coming and going for the next 45 minutes these 6 foot long, 150 pound marine mammals made easy work of our ship’s speed and splashed in and out of the water just ahead of our bow- leading not only to wonderful photo opportunities of these animals but of the positions fellow passengers had to assume to aim there cameras straight down over the bow. I’m sure you can use your imaginations!
Finally, mere minutes ago, we pulled into the calm, quite, protected anchorage of Beehive Bay to take in the evening light. Surrounded by rounded, tree cloaked hill sides and diffused light from the waning sun this became not only a perfect place to reflect on our journey but to squeeze in some final moments of beauty from an indisputably beautiful place.
