This morning we woke to the sound of rushing water as the Captain took us into Red Bluff Bay to see the magnificent waterfall at the far end. The sun shone brilliantly on us as the bow of the ship turned into a portrait gallery. In turn, many of us sat for photos as the rushing water close behind us welcomed and mesmerized us.
Afternoon kayaking in Kelp Bay offered us close-up views of numerous curious harbor seals, as well as a good number of jumping salmon. The gushing river that empties its ice-cold waters into the bay also deposits great amounts of sand and silt at the river delta, where we had the marvelous opportunity of walking in one of the most lovely fields of flowers. It was pleasant to see great clusters of wild flag iris. In addition, Sitka burnett, Nootka Lupine, silverleaf, wild geranium, rein- and Alaska orchids, red Indian paintbrush, nagoon berries and false lily-of-the-valley grew profusely in the meadow. The backdrop of sharply pointed snow-capped mountains was complemented in the foreground by enormous Sitka spruce and Western hemlock, the two most common trees in Southeast Alaska. The hikers enjoyed the walks into the forest and along the river, where tracks of deer and bear were seen along its sandy banks, partly shrouded in willows and alder.
