In spite of weather predictions for rough seas, National Geographic Sea Bird cruised smoothly through the night towards the fishing town of Petersburg, our destination for the day. This city of Norwegian heritage is not a popular tourist stop with trinkets for sale. It is a working town, a perfect spot to shop for commercial fishing supplies and foul-weather gear.
Many opportunities presented themselves: hikes, bicycling, exploring the docks, and taking a stroll with a focus on photography. The officers deftly maneuvered through the harbor to tie up at a tight parking spot along the inner dock. Petersburg is a wonderful place to wander at any pace without a leader or to join a guided walk. Our undersea specialist lead people along the docks to see different styles of fishing boats and to view the colorful anemones that clung below. Photographers explored town in search of appropriate subject matter and to learn more about getting the most from their cameras and smart phones. Those choosing an aerobic or interpretive hike traveled to Kupreanof Island, just across the channel. The trails here lead through Sitka spruce/western hemlock forest and into muskeg–a fairyland environment of sodden peat moss, dwarf trees, and carnivorous plants.
In mid-afternoon the ship pulled away, now laden with fresh seafood, including Dungeness crab for tonight’s dinner. Steller sea lions lay piled in crowded masses on the buoys as we past. Before long, two humpback whales appeared near the ship, and we observed them for a short while before heading on through Frederick Sound.
At Recap, our hotel manager explained the art of eating crab to prepare us for dinner. As evening settled in, humpback whales spouted around us–a wonderful ending to the day.
