The first few sunny days of the trip made way for a traditional “Alaskan day” of liquid sunshine as we started our morning on the decks of National Geographic Sea Bird with stretching and watching the rainy and misty mountains pass by. The adventures started early as we all braved the glorious wind and rain by paddling out to the arch around George Island. Also hikers explored the forest of the island, enjoying the flora and fauna, namely poisonous fly agaric mushrooms, but also getting a chance to see the historic World War II gun. The young at heart were able to swing on the tree rope that soared out for fantastic views of the coast. It was a fun quest in the wilderness of Alaska!
The exciting afternoon commenced with an anchorage at the Hobbit Hole in the Inian Islands. Here we sent out expedition landing craft in search of wildlife and the riches of the natural world in this region. In which there was a plentiful array of marine mammals and feathered friends. The mammals included sea otters, sea lions, a humpback whale, and a rare glimpse of a resident pod of killer whales (numbering between four and seven!) Some birding enthusiasts delighted in seeing numerous eagles, gulls, and the occasional common murres.
While cruising in the early evening, Emily Mount educated us on the fury sea otters, their biological life, and dynamic history. Cocktail hour brought us more relaxation, photo tips, info about birds, and the undersea dive footage. A full second day of the voyage!
