Iyoukeen Cove – Pavlof Harbor
This morning the early wake up call aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion was a call for sow and cubs. As we have witnessed how easily wildlife can disappear it was not long before they became one with the wildness that sustains them, that they vanished into the grasses. Onward we moved to Iyoukeen Cove where after breakfast humpback whales subtly surfaced in the calm waters of the breaking day and we reveled in the sound of the breath of the big winged New Englander (aka humpback).
Southward we headed to Pavlof Harbor in Freshwater Bay where we dropped the hook for outings of the morning. Some explored the beach and woods while others kayaked and explored by Zodiac. As the salmon were running for the falls we were soon to witness that it was not only the raging water they were going to have to navigate to return to the place that they were born. The terrestrial mammal that most epitomizes Alaskan wildness entered the scene and soon we were witness to one of our greatest wilderness experiences of the trip, if not our lives. Some brown bears were successful in catching salmon while we wondered about the future of the less endowed. Meanwhile on the trail happy hikers endured the trails less traveled and through mire and muck appreciated the treasures of the trove.
After lunch we returned to Iyoukeen hoping the cetaceans of the morning would still be in the area. Not only were we surrounded by humpbacks and sea lions (that swam amongst the whales) but porpoises played in the perfect calm heading out of the cove as we entered. Soaking up the rare sunshine of Southeast people basked in lounge chairs soaking up the beauty and wildness of Alaska.
This morning the early wake up call aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion was a call for sow and cubs. As we have witnessed how easily wildlife can disappear it was not long before they became one with the wildness that sustains them, that they vanished into the grasses. Onward we moved to Iyoukeen Cove where after breakfast humpback whales subtly surfaced in the calm waters of the breaking day and we reveled in the sound of the breath of the big winged New Englander (aka humpback).
Southward we headed to Pavlof Harbor in Freshwater Bay where we dropped the hook for outings of the morning. Some explored the beach and woods while others kayaked and explored by Zodiac. As the salmon were running for the falls we were soon to witness that it was not only the raging water they were going to have to navigate to return to the place that they were born. The terrestrial mammal that most epitomizes Alaskan wildness entered the scene and soon we were witness to one of our greatest wilderness experiences of the trip, if not our lives. Some brown bears were successful in catching salmon while we wondered about the future of the less endowed. Meanwhile on the trail happy hikers endured the trails less traveled and through mire and muck appreciated the treasures of the trove.
After lunch we returned to Iyoukeen hoping the cetaceans of the morning would still be in the area. Not only were we surrounded by humpbacks and sea lions (that swam amongst the whales) but porpoises played in the perfect calm heading out of the cove as we entered. Soaking up the rare sunshine of Southeast people basked in lounge chairs soaking up the beauty and wildness of Alaska.
