Inian Islands
Today we explored Cross Sound and Icy Strait. These waters, stirred by fierce tidal currents, were whipped into a phytoplanktonic soup of incredible fecundity, and it seemed that every sort of ocean creature came to feast.
What must the sea otters of Idaho Inlet thought at the slow approach of our ship? Not much. “Too many clams to chow down! Too much preening to get through! And a relaxing massage, even if self-applied, feels too good to interrupt when one lies on the ocean’s bed. We think those mammals, watching from their ship, so engagingly industrious, are very, very cute!”
We walked over George Island, and viewed its historic gun emplacement. We paddled and traveled by Zodiac along its shores. What must the seabirds have thought as we neared them? Not much. “Too many fish to catch! Nests to build and chicks to feed! Those poor drab creatures, with no scarlet feet or fancy facial plumes. And spending all of that time on land! How peculiar their lives must be!”
Afternoon, we circumnavigated one of the Inian Islands by Zodiac. Steller’s sea lions lay about the rocks, reveling in each other’s company yet roaring in complaint about the crowds. What must the mighty oldsters among the sea lions have thought as we neared them? Not much. “Ten of them? Well, I still outweigh the lot, but I might give them an occasional suspicious eye. The crown lies uneasy on so impressive a king-of-the-hill.” Younger sea lions filled the water along with their heftier elders. What must they have though of our passage? Not much. “How odd to be on the sea but not of it, and what a notable smell! The examination of these creatures may be worth a minute. But the current is full of fish. Down we go!”
The sea off Point Adolphus was filled with whales. What must the young whale, that breached so many times, have thought of our presence? Not much. “I can make the biggest noise of all! I can make the biggest noise of all! I can make the biggest noise of all!...Where’s my mom?”
It was a delight to spend the day in so wild a place, and in the company of such extraordinary creatures.
Today we explored Cross Sound and Icy Strait. These waters, stirred by fierce tidal currents, were whipped into a phytoplanktonic soup of incredible fecundity, and it seemed that every sort of ocean creature came to feast.
What must the sea otters of Idaho Inlet thought at the slow approach of our ship? Not much. “Too many clams to chow down! Too much preening to get through! And a relaxing massage, even if self-applied, feels too good to interrupt when one lies on the ocean’s bed. We think those mammals, watching from their ship, so engagingly industrious, are very, very cute!”
We walked over George Island, and viewed its historic gun emplacement. We paddled and traveled by Zodiac along its shores. What must the seabirds have thought as we neared them? Not much. “Too many fish to catch! Nests to build and chicks to feed! Those poor drab creatures, with no scarlet feet or fancy facial plumes. And spending all of that time on land! How peculiar their lives must be!”
Afternoon, we circumnavigated one of the Inian Islands by Zodiac. Steller’s sea lions lay about the rocks, reveling in each other’s company yet roaring in complaint about the crowds. What must the mighty oldsters among the sea lions have thought as we neared them? Not much. “Ten of them? Well, I still outweigh the lot, but I might give them an occasional suspicious eye. The crown lies uneasy on so impressive a king-of-the-hill.” Younger sea lions filled the water along with their heftier elders. What must they have though of our passage? Not much. “How odd to be on the sea but not of it, and what a notable smell! The examination of these creatures may be worth a minute. But the current is full of fish. Down we go!”
The sea off Point Adolphus was filled with whales. What must the young whale, that breached so many times, have thought of our presence? Not much. “I can make the biggest noise of all! I can make the biggest noise of all! I can make the biggest noise of all!...Where’s my mom?”
It was a delight to spend the day in so wild a place, and in the company of such extraordinary creatures.
