Day 70 - Thursday July 27

(Written on Monday August 7th; Posted on Friday August 11 in from the laundromat at the Dawson City RV Park, Dawson City Yukon Territory)

Today is our Glacier Boat Cruise day in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Yay!! This is one of the things that we have been particularly looking forward to since we began to plan our trip last winter. 

But before we could depart on our adventure we found out from the camp operator that our campsite was only available for last night, so we had to move to a new site this morning - the only one available for 2 more nights was an ‘overflow site’ with electricity and water, but no sewer connection. No problem - as it means we only have to move once, not twice!!

We were up by alarm at 7:30, and had a protein shake and toast & PB for breakfast. Moved the trailer and got it set up and unhooked from the truck. We also prepped veg and put on chili in the crock-pot to simmer during the day while we were out.

Left the campground at 10am; Went to the boat cruise company parking lot on outskirts of Seward, and took the free company shuttle to the waterfront to check in by 10:40. The boat was comfortably full, but not at all crowded. (photo of cruise boat) We left the dock a bit early, at 11:15 a.m. (we wondered if perhaps they had put on an extra cruise, due to demand) We got good seats on starboard side near front doors, with good side window views. A nice young couple on vacation from Denmark sat with us at the table.

It was a wonderful, mostly sunny, calm day. The Captain remarked several times about the good weather, clear skies and calm water. We were most fortunate to see Pacific Oceanic (or white-sided) dolphins (they look like little orcas!), (photo including Michael's finger)

and then orcas themselves, (photos) 

and THEN, two humpback whales.(photos)

Also seals and sea lions sunning on the rocks,(photos)

sea otters floating on their backs, and lots of puffins, (photos)

both in the water and on the rocks. The captain took lots of time to follow the whales and tour the shores so we got good opportunities to see and take photos. (photos)

We travelled up the Colgate Arm of Aialik Bay to the Holgate Glacier. Got to within about 100 yards of the face (toe). This is a tidewater glacier, meaning it ends at the water, not on land. (photos)

We saw several small chunks calve off and drop into the water (you have to watch to see them first; if you hear them drop into the water it is too late to see them break off, as light travels faster than sound!). The crew fished chunks of glacier ice out of the water for us to see and hold.

The cruise back to the harbour in Resurrection Bay was less eventful, as we kept up a steady cruising speed to get back to the pier by about 5:30pm. We browsed the gift shop, went the National Park Office to get information about going to see Exit Glacier tomorrow, and toured around town a bit before heading back to the campground. Michael bought a fishing rod and tackle at the The Fish House - part of the Ace Hardware store - on the off chance that he might just stop somewhere in Alaska at a creek to go fishing!! We also got quarters from the change machine at a car wash, for doing laundry. And found out where to get propane tank filled (they fill by the gallon of propane here, not by weight as at home - which means you can easily get a partially empty tank filled up at only the cost of the actual propane pumped).

Back to Rocinante; fabulous chili for supper (with enough left over for two more meals - one to go in the fridge, and one in the freezer); did a large load of dishes, read our books and went to bed, ready for another day of adventure tomorrow!