Today we had the great fortune of spending a full day in Petersburg, Alaska. National Geographic Sea Lion arrived early in the morning under a bed of clouds and mist at an extreme low tide. The exposed rocks and slopes surrounding the ship dock were covered in kelp and Pacific blue mussels. Before lunch some of us chose to cross join a naturalist-led muskeg tour. The morning dew enriched the surroundings highlighting the little things like water dripping from small berries and spider webs among the extraordinary muskeg-adapted plants and trees.
In addition to hiking, many chose to take part in a guided walk around the fishing boat docks of Petersburg, learning about the different types of fishing methods used locally while immersed in a working fishing town. While on the walk around the docks, we were able to look directly below our feet and observe the marine life that has attached itself to the wooden pilings and piers themselves. By the end of the day, the sun was out, spirits were high and we had all explored and seen new things. We finished the day with a fresh Dungeness crab feast and a sunset that filled the sky with bursting orange and red. Humpback whales joined us off the bow to watch the evening end. It’s hard to imagine a more outstanding day of expedition in Southeast Alaska.
