The sunshine peeked out as we waited to transit Sergius Narrows, early this morning. Deck photographers creatively played with our unique lighting as we cruised through Peril Strait and into Chatham Strait. Misty clouds and patches of sunshine were the theme all day. Some enjoyed the stunning rainbow that streamed across the sky after breakfast. Southeast Alaska showed us her liquid sunshine as we slowed to admire fluking humpback whales, which showed off their skills by breaching off in the distance.
We had some practical drills on board and then were dazzled by talks on photography and Pacific salmon and bear forests by knowledgeable staff members. After lunch, we gathered our rubber boots and rain gear as well as slinging photography equipment around our various appendages and made way out into expedition landing craft to explore a salmon stream where bears were spotted fishing. The two bears, one dark colored and the other a lighter blondish color, struggled for territory over the waterfalls, home to fish breeding grounds. The lucky bear got a catch and made his way into the forest to eat his catch while the other bear walked around close to the group and one lucky kayaker. It was a spectacular first day out in the temperate rain forest of Alaska!
