Eva Lake & Peril Strait
As soon as we were anchored in the vicinity of Lake Eva River, we prepared and landed at the site. Kayaking and hiking were undertaken with gusto, even if we weren’t alone there. Two fishing boats, tied to each other, were quietly anchored in the small bay. So, in reality we were the only ones. Into the forest we marched, discovering tiny orchids, Queen’s cup flowers, blueberry bushes, and the ever so dominant forest, made of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Talk about mud! First quality Alaska boot-sucking mud, made better by the constant drizzle. Yes! Here is where we really appreciated the good mucks!
Kayaking into a small bay at the base of the river was another adventure; lonely, surrounded by forest and singing varied, as well as hermit thrushes. Eagles flew back and forth.
By midday we were on our way again en route to Peril Strait, a waterway taken by all medium and small ships down to Sitka. It is called so because of an unfortunate incident with the first Russian Governor of the Russian America Company, Alexander Baranof, as he was camping and waiting for another Russian in this strait, many of the Aleut hunters with them, as well as some Russians, started eating the so-abundant mussels. Before the afternoon was over, more than a hundred people had died of paralytic shellfish poisoning!
The afternoon found us whale-watching in those waters. A humpback whale showed off its magnificence and size, as well as four Dall’s porpoise, in their crazy, fast swimming around the ship. Shortly before dinner we were advised: “Dall’s porpoise bow riding the ship!” and we all ran to see the show of these surprising porpoise. They utilize the pressure of the bow wave to surf.. These animals are very fast and stocky, and look like a small orca. And they love to bow ride!
As soon as we were anchored in the vicinity of Lake Eva River, we prepared and landed at the site. Kayaking and hiking were undertaken with gusto, even if we weren’t alone there. Two fishing boats, tied to each other, were quietly anchored in the small bay. So, in reality we were the only ones. Into the forest we marched, discovering tiny orchids, Queen’s cup flowers, blueberry bushes, and the ever so dominant forest, made of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Talk about mud! First quality Alaska boot-sucking mud, made better by the constant drizzle. Yes! Here is where we really appreciated the good mucks!
Kayaking into a small bay at the base of the river was another adventure; lonely, surrounded by forest and singing varied, as well as hermit thrushes. Eagles flew back and forth.
By midday we were on our way again en route to Peril Strait, a waterway taken by all medium and small ships down to Sitka. It is called so because of an unfortunate incident with the first Russian Governor of the Russian America Company, Alexander Baranof, as he was camping and waiting for another Russian in this strait, many of the Aleut hunters with them, as well as some Russians, started eating the so-abundant mussels. Before the afternoon was over, more than a hundred people had died of paralytic shellfish poisoning!
The afternoon found us whale-watching in those waters. A humpback whale showed off its magnificence and size, as well as four Dall’s porpoise, in their crazy, fast swimming around the ship. Shortly before dinner we were advised: “Dall’s porpoise bow riding the ship!” and we all ran to see the show of these surprising porpoise. They utilize the pressure of the bow wave to surf.. These animals are very fast and stocky, and look like a small orca. And they love to bow ride!
