Today officially started at 12:01am on the bow of the National Geographic Sea Lion under a spectacular curtain of green and red aurora display that lasted the whole evening. Throughout the night we transited north up the Chatham Strait to the Inian Island located in Cross Sound and exposed to the Gulf of Alaska. The morning light revealed a cloudless sky and smooth waters abundant with sea life. This narrow gap of ocean between several islands is where the sea empties twice a day with impressive tidal swings that create an upwelling of nutrients for a wildlife feast. Soon after leaving the ship to explore this remarkable area in our zodiacs, we rounded a point and treated to the most grandeur sight of the Fairweather Range reflecting in the glassy water. These mountains are in excess of 14,000 feet and covered in glaciers. The wildlife sightings came one after another; sea otter with pup, bald eagle on a nest, kittiwakes catching fish and northern sea lions swallowing pink salmon whole. All to the exhilarating tune of the rushing water from a sixteen-foot tide entering Icy Strait.
But that’s not all. It is only halfway through our day so our hotel manager, Ryan served up some cocktails on the bow as we reposition the ship a short distance to George Island for our afternoon operations. Named after George Vancouver after a visit in 1794 and an important military installation during the Second World War, this remote island was a wonderful destination for afternoon hikes to historic canon and photo walks on the beaches. About a dozen of our brave guests took a polar plunge off of the smooth pebble beach in the 50-degree crystal clear water to cool down from this exceptionally warm day in Southeast Alaska. The dream continues tomorrow as we head toward Glacier Bay National Park tonight.
