August 1, Saturday
We are headed into Whittier after a spectacular week on PWS. We explored and played in rain, sun, clouds. We had it all. It did not stop us from hiking, paddling SUPs and kayaks, searching out whales or catching fish. We had a few days where we saw no one.
There were nineteen of us on two boats, five of those ten years and younger. Old family, new family, blood family. We all pitched in and cooked, did dishes, filleted halibut (we caught seven over 24 hours) dropped shrimp pots, pulled shrimp pots, took kids and dogs (there were three) to shore, trolled for salmon, caught spawning salmon by hand--and teeth!, filleted salmon, loaded and unloaded kayaks, harvested glacier ice, chased whales---our days were full! We didn't get started until nine or so and we were lucky if the kids were in bed by eleven at night, with the sun setting.
Reese lucked out and caught the first fish--a tom cod and the only salmon--a pink and a silver. He got skunked on the halibut but all our freezers are full. The boys were obsessed for much of the trip. Ruby liked the moon jellies-non stinging translucent creatures that looked like flowers or beating hearts with four chambers.
The glaciers changed the weather and water temperature. Harbor seals followed us like bad spies, ducking beneath the surface when you looked behind your kayak. Dark eyes in sleek faces, so curious and cute. Reese and George put on survival suits and jumped in the frigid water and clambered around on an iceberg. The Chenega Glacier creaked and roared as it calved. Glaciers seem to be a reoccurring theme on our trip.
Sea otter, sea lions, porpoises, birds that fly and swim. Orcas, two families one with a baby. And humpback whales. We were so fortunate to see breeching, slapping pectoral fins, tail slapping seventeen times from one whale. Magical.
The week has been magical. I don't think it could have gone better. The pictures don't do it justice, just sayin'.
Amazing! So glad you had this experience!
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