Holkham Bay, Endicott Arm, and Dawes Glacier, 7/7/2022, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
We woke this morning to calm waters as we entered Holkham Bay, with the grey and overcast skies that are characteristic of Alaska right now. We soon found a small cove to explore by kayak. We paddled by several cascading waterfalls and small meadows carpeted with sedges as curious harbor seals popped out of the water to observe us.
After lunch, we had a unique opportunity to get a bit closer to some ice. We took a Zodiac tour through an ice field up to Dawes Glacier. We observed extraordinary views of rushing waterfalls and crashing chunks of calving ice from the glacier. Terns and kittiwakes soared overhead, and we observed indescribable shades of blue, aqua, and sapphire in the icebergs all around us. Our Zodiacs were visited by our one-of-a-kind Cocoa Boat, which brought us beverages to keep our hands and spirits warm!
An East Coast native, but a Californian by choice; Andy has spent a lot of his life moving around from place to place. Whether it was moving homes, spending free time growing up exploring state and national parks, or having spent a large amount of hi...
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On National Geographic Sea Lion , our last full day of the expedition started with a morning full of awe and wonder. First up on the day’s itinerary was cruising for wildlife. Everyone welcomed the day with a phenomenal opportunity to see a spectacular show of humpback whales bubble-net feeding. Underwater specialist Kelly carefully lowered the underwater microphone into the water, and humpback vocalizations added to the magic of the moment, allowing guests to hear the underwater activity of the whales, the calls, and the final command to head up to the surface. At one point, the whales surfaced stunningly right next to the ship, causing awes, oohs, and goosebumps. Our faces hurt from smiling ear to ear after our brilliant morning. We enjoyed a yummy lunch of cheeseburgers and Beyond Burgers. Our afternoon in Pavlof Harbor was just as stellar as our morning adventure. Guests were shuttled by Zodiac to a beach landing at Pavlof Harbor. After a short hike to the waterfalls, guests sat in awe of several coastal grizzly bears who took advantage of the salmon run and snacked on tasty fish. There was a mama and cub, two juveniles, and several larger, more mature bears all strategically placed to catch the tasty meal. On our way to Sitka in the late afternoon, we were graced with an incredible sight as a mama coastal brown bear and her three very new cubs foraged on a beach. Everyone had a delicious dinner prepared by Head Chef Eddie McField, and guests ended the day with the world premiere viewing of the guest slide show. What an incredible adventure! We hope to see everyone back again soon for another expedition! Photo caption and photographer: There were nineteen humpback whales working cooperatively in bubble-net feeding. Photo by Svea Anderson
Early morning found us approaching the end of the Inside Passage at the Inian Islands. We boarded Zodiacs to enjoy close and personal experiences with the wildlife. Sea lions were not only hauled out in noisy groups, but also feasting on the migrating salmon in the strong current. Numerous sea otters were spotted, wrapped in the kelp, looking as cute as can be. Huge numbers of birds were spotted in this rich environment, including tufted puffins. Some were on the water while one group displayed on a ledge along the cliff, showing off their amazing tufts and bright orange beaks. In the afternoon, we kayaked and hiked in a beautiful bay along Chichagof Island. Salmon were beginning to swim up the river, and signs of bears were everywhere. We enjoyed the intertidal world, sampling the numerous berries, and the overall beauty of this spot.
We had a lovely day on board National Geographic Sea Bird . We spent our morning doing hikes in the temperate rainforest on Kuiu Island in the idyllic bay of Halleck Harbor. The sun then came out as we repositioned the ship to the Keku Islands for Zodiac tours.
