Thursday, June 17, 2010

June 17, 2010

Kenai Fjords Cruise

Today we took a six and a half hour sightseeing cruise out of Seward.

 

18 Our Boat

 

Don’t know how well this will show up.  We took the yellow cruise with a couple of modifications to see more sea life.

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Impossible to describe the trip adequately.  The captain/narrator was excellent.  Lots of narration about sea life, geology, geography, history, and many opportunities sought out to see different animals, fish, and birds

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Sea otters.  They really were that close.

 

 

 

 

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Bald eagle.

 

 

 

 

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Orca (Killer Whale)

 

 

 

 

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Cormorants

 

 

 

 

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Harbor seal.

 

 

 

 

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Ice chunks in water.

 

 

 

 

This is where they came from:

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Holgate Glacier.  It is more than a quarter mile across and several hundred feet high.  This picture taken from a half mile away.  We did get closer.

 

 

 

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While we were there we saw (and heard) the glacier calf several times.  Quite a sight (and sound).

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Puffin.  There are two types.  This is the Tufted Puffin.

 

 

 

 

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Horned Puffin

 

 

 

 

Steller Sea Lions

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Common Murres

 

 

 

 

We saw several other species including a Humpback whale and Dall’s Porpoises but seeing them is iffy let alone photographing them especially on a rocking boat in the rain.  Except for the weather it was a great day.  The weather was very manageable too as the boat has completely enclosed and heated cabins.  We could wander around all we wanted and go outside to get better views whenever we wished.  Several hardy (foolish) souls spent most of the trip on the railing on the bow of the boat with rain and sea water splashing them much of the time.  Good ride though.

Back home to some hot chocolate and tomorrow back to Homer hopefully.



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