The wake-up call this morning aboard National Geographic Sea Lion was a few minutes before arriving at and circling New Eddystone Rock. This 234-foot spire, an erosion-resistant core of a conduit that once transported magma toward the surface, was named by George Vancouver and juts prominently out of the waves that lap at its base. As National Geographic Sea Lion circled the stone, photographers had an opportunity to capture the scene, complete with the misty rain, clouds and various light conditions. We then continued into the Behm Canal and the heart of Misty Fjord National Monument, the southern-most of Alaska’s 18 national monuments.
To enter Rudyard Bay, National Geographic Sea Lion passed through a narrows known as Owl Pass. Those interested in photographing the vessel as it traveled through the pass were well clad for the ‘very heavy mist’ (aka RAIN) and boarded the expedition landing craft with cameras in hand. This was followed by tours through the misty, ethereal landscape of Rudyard Bay. Some waterfalls cascaded down the sides of slate-gray, glacially scoured rocks, while others freefell hundreds of feet from the steeper walls of the fjords.
A small group of intrepid guests, perhaps inspired by the viewing of “Around Cape Horn” last night, ventured out in the bay in kayaks for a more intimate experience on the water. In the kayaks, one can ‘nose’ right up to the base of a small waterfall and peer straight up the wall to where the water first appears on its journey from the ice fields and glaciers high above. It’s a humbling, yet incredibly inspiring!
After another delicious and hearty lunch, we enjoyed a presentation introducing us to the cultural experiences in store for us for the remainder of the trip. We then continued sailing into the afternoon, learning more about camera use and seeking wildlife and the elusive rainbow!
