The sun shimmered and danced off the gentle swells of the sea in unison with a cloudless blue sky. It would go on forever if not interrupted by an array of mountains covered in temperate rain forest. If there is a better scene to wake up to, I do not know of it.
Known to host abundant marine life, Frederick Sound is a beautiful passage separating Kupreanof and Admiralty Islands and does so in dramatic fashion. While no whales were seen this morning, the wonderful bays, fjords, islands, and LeConte Glacier were more than enough to keep everyone’s eyes focused out the windows during breakfast.
We had the chance to stretch our legs and explore more of the forest. The lush green forest floor hosted numerous plants and wildflowers to identify for those who were interested in taking it slow this morning, others decided to go for a more rigorous walk to work their lungs, taking advantage of the fresh Alaskan air.
This afternoon brought us to, gasp, civilization! Petersburg—a small fishing town with a Nordic problem. Alaska’s Little Norway as it’s affectionately called, Petersburg was founded more than 100 years ago by Norwegian fisherman. Originally a simple town hosting a cannery, sawmill, and dock, Petersburg is now one of Alaska’s major fishing towns with a population of nearly 3,000 full-time residents.
Guests chose to go for nature walks with our naturalists, go for a flight-seeing tour above glaciers and icebergs, or simply explore the town and do a little “retail therapy” shopping in support of the local community. Whatever they chose, most ended up on the back deck of the ship to soak up a little sun and watch bald eagles dive-bomb for fish inside the harbor.
The evening brought us a wonderful all-you-can-eat crab feast. I don’t think the dining room has ever been so quiet.
With our bellies full, a welcomed announcement from our expedition leader, Stephanie, informed us that there were humpback whales near the ship. With the sun setting, the water once again danced and shimmered, this time with whale tails adding to the sacred waltz. If there is a better ending to a perfect day, I do not know of it.
