We crossed the bar into Tracy Arm near first light. There was a thick blanket of clouds at a ceiling of about 1,000 feet, hiding the summits yet revealing the many waterfalls below. We positioned the National Geographic Quest such that we could both go kayaking up towards the Sawyer Glacier and take Zodiacs up to South Sawyer Glacier. We explored the waterfalls and countless blue icebergs as harbor seals watched us from there perches on the ice floes. In the afternoon we weren’t quite finished with the ice. Guests took the polar plunge in front of the Sawyer Glacier.
9/22/2023
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National Geographic Quest
Friday Harbor and Sucia Island
As we awoke for the last full day of our marvelous expedition together, we set eyes upon the striking lands that are the San Juan Islands. Pulling into the dock at Friday Harbor, located on the largest island, San Juan, we cleared customs smoothly and had a little bit of free time to explore the town. Bustling even at ten in the morning, small shops filled with aromatic coffee, fresh pastries, and sparkly crafts kept our attention until soon it was time to return to the ship once again. We set sail and weaved through the smaller islands. Harbor porpoises glinted in the waves, flirting with the ship and disappearing below. Our arrival at Sucia Island shortly after lunch yielded a remarkable playground for us to explore. The large, horseshoe shaped island with thin islets scattered about offers fascinating geology around every bend. Unique formations in the sandstone caused by algae eating away at the rock create beautiful honeycomb shapes along the shore. The aptly named Fossil Bay has hidden treasures of ammonites and hardened crabs for those with keen eyes and the patience to look. We strolled, hiked, and even kayaked in the flat, calm waters of the bay. We returned to our home one last time to celebrate our journey, including the friends we have made and the memories we won’t forget.
