Those who chanced to be out and about before the official wake-up call this morning were rewarded with enchanting rays of sun stretching down from the clouds creating playful sparkles on the ocean’s surface. Respectful whales kindly waited until stretch class was finished before announcing their presence with spouts in the distance.
The morning activities took place at Pavlof Harbor with kayaking, hikes, and small boat tours. Many who spent their morning on the water had the special treat of spotting a large cluster of fish called sand lance. Commonly known as a bait ball, this spherical shadow of tiny wriggling fish were using the approach of safety in numbers to minimize becoming bait themselves. Unfortunately for some of the fish, this technique wasn’t enough to keep them from being snatched into the hungry talons of a bald eagle flying above.
Our hikers had a little more colorful experience as they crossed paths with several of the latest spring fashions in bloom. Yellow wood violets, magenta shooting stars, and yellow buttercups offered their brilliance for our enjoyment. Also displaying its stunning green rippled leaves was the false hellebore, also known as corn lily. An especially eager group of hikers choose today to take an adventurous bushwhack. The majority of the group, dedicated to circumnavigating Pavlof Lake returned to the ship fairly muddy, very wet, and with huge grins adorning their faces.
Although the evidence of bears was seen in the leftover skunk cabbage from their post hibernation feast, we would have to wait and see if the afternoon would offer the opportunity for a live viewing. Cruising Chatham Strait we got our wish… spotting a brown bear searching for food in a protected sandy cove. As the afternoon came to a close, the National Geographic Sea Bird made one final stop to enjoy a picturesque waterfall providing the finale of a beautiful day.
