During the night we navigated west in Stephen’s Passage and then north into Chatham Strait. Our destination of the morning was Red Bluff Bay, a scenic indention in the southeastern corner of Baranof Island. The weather has changed from yesterday and subsequently so has our preparation for adventure. We are transitioning today from slathering sunscreen to donning raingear. So far we have only experienced a heavy mist, but it has the potential for more exuberance. As for sightings, the overcast brings a deeper green to the forest. Any rain will fortify and multiply the waterfalls. Lastly, the killer whales our chief mate found in Chatham Strait could not care less about precipitation. A pod of at least nine whales were scattered about and headed north, just as we were. With skilled and patient driving, we were able to get wonderful looks at the occasional cavort and brief spy hop offered by one of the killer whales.
For the afternoon, Lake Eva trail on Baranof Island was our destination. This was to be our first opportunity to kayak and as we slipped into our kayaks on shore, the sun decided to slip out from behind the cloud cover. It was high tide and just starting to ebb, which meant the hidden lagoon was full and subsequently accessible by our nimble kayaks. Paddlers enjoyed eagles soaring overhead, harbor seals stalking and eating fish, and the tranquility of paddling around in a stunning landscape.
Altogether a successful endeavor with the weather, landscape, and wildlife of Southeast Alaska showcased at its authentic best.
