Tranquility. We awoke this morning to find ourselves in the north arm of Kelp Bay on Baranof Island. The early morning hours were spent lingering amongst humpback whales as the mist of their breath literally hung in the air around us. On shore we spied two mule deer foraging on the pre high tidal vegetation. Eagles soared above their own reflections in the quiet stillness of the bay.
We spent the latter part of this unusually sunny morning hiking and kayaking in the southern arm of Kelp Bay. Pristine turquoise waters fed by glacial waterfalls and rivers surrounded the kayakers as they meandered from shore to shore and floated below waterfalls hundreds of feet high. Hikers were treated to a cornucopia of wildflowers. The alluvial meadow was confettied with chocolate lilies, geraniums, paintbrush, iris, red columbine, and cinquefoil - enough to cause sensory overload.
The latter part of the day was spent cruising through Peril Strait as we enjoyed the beauty that is Southeast Alaska.
