Elfin Cove, Icy Strait, & Point Adolphus
When the call of “Breaching Humpback!” resonated throughout the ship at 7:45 this morning, we knew it was destined to be an incredible day. When we arrived on the bow and noticed that the sky was blue without a cloud in sight, we knew it was a very unusual day. When that same humpback breached over 30 times before we could even eat breakfast, we admitted that life was as good as it gets, and the smiles were contagious.
As usual, there were too many events in the day to do them all justice in this short text. Leaving our leaping cetacean friend behind at Point Adolphus, we cruised westward through the treacherous Inian Pass and into Althorp Bay to visit the charming and isolated fishing community of Elfin Cove. There are no streets in Elfin Cove, but what it lacks in transportation it more than makes up for in authentic Alaskan character... not to mention the bountiful invertebrates and jellyfish floating around its dock! Our curiosity satiated, we returned to the ship to eat a sumptuous lunch on the top deck and to bask in the sun.
Our afternoon was spent anchored at George Island, in the mouth of Cross Sound. Hikers crossed the island to explore the ruins of a World War II gunnery nestled amidst the mosses, lichens and banana slugs. Early hikers were also treated to the surprise appearance of a large group of at least twenty resident killer whales who were patrolling the west side of the island. Meanwhile, our kayakers combed the coves and caves on the lee side.
The finale of the day was a tour of the Inian Islands, filled with boisterous sea lions, reclusive sea otters, and soaring gulls and kittiwakes. The sun and sky faded into dreamscapes of silhouetted mountains, drifting fog and golden hues. Ahhh...what a perfect, perfect day.
When the call of “Breaching Humpback!” resonated throughout the ship at 7:45 this morning, we knew it was destined to be an incredible day. When we arrived on the bow and noticed that the sky was blue without a cloud in sight, we knew it was a very unusual day. When that same humpback breached over 30 times before we could even eat breakfast, we admitted that life was as good as it gets, and the smiles were contagious.
As usual, there were too many events in the day to do them all justice in this short text. Leaving our leaping cetacean friend behind at Point Adolphus, we cruised westward through the treacherous Inian Pass and into Althorp Bay to visit the charming and isolated fishing community of Elfin Cove. There are no streets in Elfin Cove, but what it lacks in transportation it more than makes up for in authentic Alaskan character... not to mention the bountiful invertebrates and jellyfish floating around its dock! Our curiosity satiated, we returned to the ship to eat a sumptuous lunch on the top deck and to bask in the sun.
Our afternoon was spent anchored at George Island, in the mouth of Cross Sound. Hikers crossed the island to explore the ruins of a World War II gunnery nestled amidst the mosses, lichens and banana slugs. Early hikers were also treated to the surprise appearance of a large group of at least twenty resident killer whales who were patrolling the west side of the island. Meanwhile, our kayakers combed the coves and caves on the lee side.
The finale of the day was a tour of the Inian Islands, filled with boisterous sea lions, reclusive sea otters, and soaring gulls and kittiwakes. The sun and sky faded into dreamscapes of silhouetted mountains, drifting fog and golden hues. Ahhh...what a perfect, perfect day.
