Elfin Cove and Point Adolphus
As all of our days on this family trip have been, today was full of stunning scenery, incredible wildlife, and joyful camaraderie. Our 4th of July celebrations began with a brightly shining sun and playful sea otters diving amidst the waves of Althorp Cove. We wound our way to Elfin Cove, an isolated fishing community located on the northwest corner of Chichagof Island. Embraced by evergreen mountains, the town is accessible only by boat or float plane and is comprised of a few small shops, a jam-packed dock, and a sense of community spirit beyond compare. After being warmly welcomed by our host, Mary Jo Lord-Wild, we wandered the town’s boardwalks and explored its floating pier, “hunting” for invertebrates. Numerous younger Sea Bird guests then took part in the annual Elfin Cove fourth of July parade. With their faces colorfully painted and streamers flowing in their hair, they clapped and conga-ed their way through the town to the melodies of a kazoo. For some, the festivities didn’t end there! A variety of carnival games, including a banana slug race, capped the morning’s activities.
The crew surprised us with a tasty barbecue on the top deck, including make-your-own sundaes for dessert of which the younger guests took impressive advantage. Fueled up and highly exuberant, we headed into an afternoon of hiking and kayaking on and around George Island. The kids-only hike was a boot-stuck-in-mud success, where the gang went above and beyond the call of duty to help each other have the best time possible. Ambassadors of the forest, sixteen slugs greeted our group as we wound through the lush winding trails.
Our sun-drenched late afternoon was filled with watercolor painting, a game of Twister, plankton-viewing, and a discussion on fishing led by our Chief Engineer and veteran fisherman, Dan Proffitt. After dinner, breaching humpbacks took our breath away and left us with rich images to fill our night-time dreams.
