Up early to drive into Seward for the boat trip. Two years ago we took a trip with the same company on a trip called, Captain’s Choice. Captain’s Choice is a small boat with a maximum of 22 passengers. We were treated to some spectacular whale displays. While we took pictures the Captain recorded the whales’ song. He promised to send us the recording if we would send him the pictures. We did send him the pictures but never received the recordings. This morning as we were checking in I recognized the captain. Ah ha! There’s Captain Dan. I’m going to ask him.
When we got our reservation yesterday we were told that Captain’s Choice was full so we reserved spots on the larger boat. When we checked in we were required to read a weather hazard policy and decide whether we wanted to go today, reschedule, or cancel. The waves were predicted to be quite high. We, of course, decided to go anyway. (If the Captain decided to turn around, we would have been eligible for a partial refund.)
As we left the Seward harbor, we spotted this bald eagle on a piling.
This boat can carry up to 150 people but there were only 50 aboard. Captain Dan, of the missing recordings, was our captain. Because there were so few people on the boat, we got excellent seats in the front row. The sea was quite rough. There were periods of time when we were crossing 12-15 foot swells. It was quite a ride. We had both taken seasick medicine and were fine. Many people on the boat were wishing they were somewhere else. After a particularly tough crossing the Captain announced that he had considered turning around but that he expected the sea to get better so he had persevered. The views were impressive.
Just before we reached the glacier I noticed two black bears on the beach.
We went from Seward to the Northwestern Glacier.
It took nearly 3 hours to reach the glacier. I agree with Robert that after awhile one glacier looks pretty much like another glacier. Here is Northwestern Glacier.
We were treated this time with nearly 15 minutes of glacier calving. A glacier calves when chunks of ice break off the face of the glacier. It is difficult to get pictures of a glacier calving because you hear the sound long after the ice has fallen (i.e., sound moves slower than light). Watch the ice falling in the next five pictures. You can see the rock face initially bare, covered with ice, and bare again. These pictures span about 30 seconds.
Here's a sea otter.
We saw a number of harbor seals either sunning themselves or swimming.
On the way back we stopped to look for puffins on the rocks.
The biggest treat of the day was two sightings of Mom Whales with a baby (different sets).
Watch a whale blow!
And they swim together as they dive.
I did ask Captain Dan about the whale recordings. He remembered me. (He said, "you're an attorney, right? I still have your card.") He promised that if I send him an email to remind him that this time he'll send the recordings. We'll see if he follows through. It is really neat to hear the whales vocalize as they swim and dive. I hope he follows through.
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