Cruising and Bay of Pillars
As the day became light, we were cruising south in Chatham Strait en route to our important stop: the Bay of Pillars, on Kuiu Island, just south of the enormous Island of Admiralty. Even before breakfast we spotted the incredible top predators of all oceans of our world: orcas or killer whales. We definitely slowed down and followed and watched them move in two groups, slowly, towards the coast of Baranof Island. They were in no hurry, and neither were we. Two large males with their 6 ft. high dorsal fins! The smaller females moving in unison with them, though their social system is a matriarchate. After enjoying them thoroughly, we had breakfast and still sailed south along Chatham Strait. A while later we made a short stop on this large island, and marveled at the magnificent waterfall of Kasnyku, carrying enormous amounts of ice-cold water from the ice and snow melt of many mountains in the vicinity. On we sailed, and, after crossing Chatham Strait towards the east, sailed down part of Kuiu Isand to the Bay of Pillars. Here we anchored and enjoyed kayaking, taking tours of the lovely area of the Bay of Pillars in our Zodiacs, and hiking in the very dense, path-poor forest that encompasses the area. Many moose and bears frequent the place, as we saw quite a few scats of both of these animals, and great amounts of sedges and other edible plants (even by us!) along the beach, which had been heavily grazed upon by these animals. Among these edible plants were the lamb’s quarters (the leaves), the silver weed (the roots), the pickleweed (all of the plant) and the beach plantain (the leaves). It is with the husk of the seeds of these last plants that Metamucil is made!
The sun still smiled upon us as we proceeded to our after dinner destination: Spurt Lake, a very lovely and interesting place on the southern part of Baranof Island. Then we turned east again, and headed into Frederick Sound, where tomorrow’s destination will be.
