Day 6 - Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point is a purpose built tourist area with room for one ship to be docked. It was built in cooperation with the local Tlingot village (about six miles away). A good way to control the number of visitors per day & those entering the village. Smart. And proceeds are divided amongst the tour operators & villagers.

Sarah was first up (I was allegedly snoring). We had an early start: Our excursion meeting time was 7:10am. 

She ventured up to the Lido to bring back croissants & bacon while I made tea. 

Then down we went to meet up & straight off the ship and into the whale watching boat.

Didn’t take long for the first hump back whale to be spotted. The first sign of whale is the spume, which is mucus mixed with sea water (a snot rocket, we were told). Later we saw a blue whale. I’m using “we” loosely. I didn’t see the first two. It was the next sighting, where I was on the correct side. Between us & the shore was a mother & calf hump back. Pictures gallore. They swung the boat around to give the people on the other side a chance to watch. 

Humpback whales blowing spume

All but three of us watched the “show”. While they were distracted, we watched a bunch of gulls go after a sea lion. I thought they were going after the sea lion to grab whatever fish he caught. It is possible they were going after him because he snatched up a family member. 

Sealion under seige

On the way back to the ship, we saw about 4 sea lions perched on a buoy. Beyond them, the ship. Beyond...sea & mountains.

Back to the ship to sit on the balcony...in the sun. Lunch in the pub. Back on the balcony. Sarah in shorts. 

Since we’ve been back, two bald eagles have been resting on the top of piers at the end of the dock. Beyond that...whale.

While we were on the balcony, we watched people zip lining down the mountain. Then we watch a pod of about six hump back whales “bubble net” fishing. They swim underwater in a circle, then come up through the middle to catch the small fish trapped in the centre. This kept us entertained until we sailed away at 5:30pm.

Another perfect day.

Tomorrow, Sitka and a rain forest hike.