George Island, Elfin Cove, and Point Adolphus
The day dawned misty and cool as we entered Idaho Inlet. Sea otters, declared extinct in 1925, are now thriving in areas of Southeast Alaska, and we watched several otters frolic off the bow of Sea Bird as we motored from Idaho Inlet towards Granite Cove, a small embayment in George Island. By the time we anchored, spokes of sunlight spilled through the clouds and a moderate swell promised an exciting kayak outing. Paddling towards the open sea, the kayakers left the protected waters of the cove and headed around the south side of the island. The waves and currents tossed the boats around and we decided to turn around and explore the calmer area to the north. The rocks abounded with invertebrate life and there were numerous jellyfish in amongst the bull kelp. During the Second World War there was a gun emplacement on George Island to guard Cross Sound, the northern entrance to the Inside Passage. The derelict gun is still on the island and it was a popular destination for the hikers exploring the island.
After lunch we had the opportunity to visit the small, remote town of Elfin Cove. Close access to rich salmon grounds is the foundation of this community and almost everyone living there has some connection to fishing. Once we reached the village, we found that the buildings are connected by an intricate series of boardwalks that allow the 12 full-time residents and numerous visitors to stroll above the varying tides. We visited the shops, marveled over the fishing boats just in from trolling for Coho salmon, and we gained some appreciation of their history in the small museum.
We left Elfin Cove and headed east towards Point Adolphus searching for whales and other marine life. We found more sea otters, and one came very close to the ship, which we were able to photograph. Near Point Adolphus we encountered several very active humpback whales. We saw one of them slapping the water with its enormous flippers and one humpback leapt clear out of the water several times thrilling us with its graceful agility. A perfect way to end a fantastic week aboard the Sea Bird.
The day dawned misty and cool as we entered Idaho Inlet. Sea otters, declared extinct in 1925, are now thriving in areas of Southeast Alaska, and we watched several otters frolic off the bow of Sea Bird as we motored from Idaho Inlet towards Granite Cove, a small embayment in George Island. By the time we anchored, spokes of sunlight spilled through the clouds and a moderate swell promised an exciting kayak outing. Paddling towards the open sea, the kayakers left the protected waters of the cove and headed around the south side of the island. The waves and currents tossed the boats around and we decided to turn around and explore the calmer area to the north. The rocks abounded with invertebrate life and there were numerous jellyfish in amongst the bull kelp. During the Second World War there was a gun emplacement on George Island to guard Cross Sound, the northern entrance to the Inside Passage. The derelict gun is still on the island and it was a popular destination for the hikers exploring the island.
After lunch we had the opportunity to visit the small, remote town of Elfin Cove. Close access to rich salmon grounds is the foundation of this community and almost everyone living there has some connection to fishing. Once we reached the village, we found that the buildings are connected by an intricate series of boardwalks that allow the 12 full-time residents and numerous visitors to stroll above the varying tides. We visited the shops, marveled over the fishing boats just in from trolling for Coho salmon, and we gained some appreciation of their history in the small museum.
We left Elfin Cove and headed east towards Point Adolphus searching for whales and other marine life. We found more sea otters, and one came very close to the ship, which we were able to photograph. Near Point Adolphus we encountered several very active humpback whales. We saw one of them slapping the water with its enormous flippers and one humpback leapt clear out of the water several times thrilling us with its graceful agility. A perfect way to end a fantastic week aboard the Sea Bird.
