Meant to say that I am having real trouble connecting here and have to sit in Motel lobby to do this.
The day started early and we decided to visit Exit Glacier before the whale cruise at 11.00. % mile drive then 1 mile walk into the glacier through mosquito infested woods - but it was worth it - see photos below..........
The day started early and we decided to visit Exit Glacier before the whale cruise at 11.00. % mile drive then 1 mile walk into the glacier through mosquito infested woods - but it was worth it - see photos below..........
This glacier has retreated about 300 yards since 1998.
Back to the Motel for a coffee, juice and muffin breakfast and then dashed to the cruise boat. This was the start of an absolutely brilliant day. Everything was great - the weather very sunny, the sea very calm and an abundance of marine life. The skipper "Captain Josh" reckoned it was in the top 5 that he was had and he's been a skipper for 12 years! We went far out into the Gulf of Alaska down Resurrection Bay to the Chiswell Islands.
We saw...........
a very large pod of Orca,
a very large Fin Whale which is the 2nd largest whale species, it was doing a belly roll,
some Dall Porpoise which look like mini Orca,
several different sighting of Humpback Whale - including one that was trying to fly
a colony of Stellar Sea Lions
WE also cruised to the Holgate Glacier in Aialik Bay - this was a truely awesome sight as we got quite close and witnessed some bits dropping off - "calving". We also felt the effects of the "katabatic" wind caused when the dense cold air falls off the top of the glacier. This glacier has a 400 - 600 foot face. A very dramatic sight.
The photos just keep getting better and better.
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