Exploring
Unleashed! At last, the rainforest earns its title, and proves its reputation. Nobly disobeying the skies with Muirian bravado, brave kayaks and hikes paddled and marched forth, disregarding the threat of textile hydration for a final foray into the Alaska wild.
Upon their safe return, Zodiac lessons and knot-tying classes began. The Boatswain offered up his tiller arm to any takers coming, and gave them a turn with Tern, gaining experience with transit powered by four-stroke. Much less at risk of overboard were two deckhands in the forward lounge, comfortably and dryly talking knots with an interested audience. Nearly shown up by the Eagle Scouts present, Justin narrowly managed to out do the finest one-handed bowline with his spinning figure eight.
But the coup de grace, the sunrise and sunset, the alpha and omega of the day, was the whales. Showing their teeth and teamwork in the good morning as well as good afternoon, giving us the gift of insight, a glimpse of other-worldliness, a taste of mealtime as a humpback. How fascinating a feeding, and incredible circumstance to witness. Opening our minds to communication, cooperation, and ingenuity, they evidence a collective mind deeper possibly than the seas they inhabit. Impressing us with beauty and awe, silencing our thoughts with their songs and sounds, and waiting and watching and was anybody breathing at all in that silence the moment before the waters erupted with humpback mouth and face and sea spray? Magnificent show, making the ship sit still with anticipation and joy. A week of joys, of sunshine, glaciers, kayaks, natural history, whales, bears, porpoises, sea lions and otters. Educating, affirming, and preparing us to properly experience this fantastic display of the feast. Our deepest gratitude, humpbacks, for the close encounters and the privilege of sharing your waters.
Unleashed! At last, the rainforest earns its title, and proves its reputation. Nobly disobeying the skies with Muirian bravado, brave kayaks and hikes paddled and marched forth, disregarding the threat of textile hydration for a final foray into the Alaska wild.
Upon their safe return, Zodiac lessons and knot-tying classes began. The Boatswain offered up his tiller arm to any takers coming, and gave them a turn with Tern, gaining experience with transit powered by four-stroke. Much less at risk of overboard were two deckhands in the forward lounge, comfortably and dryly talking knots with an interested audience. Nearly shown up by the Eagle Scouts present, Justin narrowly managed to out do the finest one-handed bowline with his spinning figure eight.
But the coup de grace, the sunrise and sunset, the alpha and omega of the day, was the whales. Showing their teeth and teamwork in the good morning as well as good afternoon, giving us the gift of insight, a glimpse of other-worldliness, a taste of mealtime as a humpback. How fascinating a feeding, and incredible circumstance to witness. Opening our minds to communication, cooperation, and ingenuity, they evidence a collective mind deeper possibly than the seas they inhabit. Impressing us with beauty and awe, silencing our thoughts with their songs and sounds, and waiting and watching and was anybody breathing at all in that silence the moment before the waters erupted with humpback mouth and face and sea spray? Magnificent show, making the ship sit still with anticipation and joy. A week of joys, of sunshine, glaciers, kayaks, natural history, whales, bears, porpoises, sea lions and otters. Educating, affirming, and preparing us to properly experience this fantastic display of the feast. Our deepest gratitude, humpbacks, for the close encounters and the privilege of sharing your waters.
