Captain's Blog
The official blog of American Safari Cruises
|
Yacht: Safari Explorer Day 3: Breakfast was called by the ship's staff. Not to be outdone, the humpbacks called a breakfast of their own and began cooperative feeding very near our yacht. Nine animals began racing to the surface, mouths agape, swallowing bait fish as fast as they could scoop them up. This behavior caused us to abandon our own feeding and hop into our skiffs to follow the feeding group. Three hours and nine miles later, they were still at it. We reluctantly broke off and headed south so we could feed our own guests lunch and get them warmed up. After motoring for an hour, we spotted some orca near shore in the Iyokene area and noticed that they were up to something. Upon closer inspection, we witnessed the decimation of a Stellar Sea Lion and watched in awe as nine or ten other sea lions tried to escape the carnage. After one lost sea lion and one badly wounded, the orca let up and left the area. All I can say is - what is tomorrow going to hold? Captain Tim Voss & The Crew of the Safari Explorer
Yacht: Safari Quest Day 3: This morning we got under way and headed out across Cross Sound and into Lisianski Inlet, making our way towards the town of Pelican. The rugged coast of Lisianski was draped in white mists, and the Inlet seemed to stretch out forever ahead. I thought of the early explorers here who must have experienced something like this as they searched for the fabled Northwest Passage. As we cruised along, curious sea otters watched us sail by, bobbing on their backs among the kelp beds. Soon we reached Pelican, a small community of only about 115 residents. No cell phones or traffic jams here; there are still a couple of old phone booths, complete with accordion doors, at the top of the dock. The only vehicles allowed are the town garbage truck and the little carts everyone drives up and down the boardwalk streets. While your captain got caught up on local politics at the Lisianski Inlet Cafe, the guests checked out the adjoining gift shop, the small museum, and the spectacular view across the Inlet from the boardwalk. This afternoon we kayaked and beach walked in the scenic south end of Idaho Inlet. A Bald Eagle watched our kayakers warily as they paddled past its nest. Meanwhile, Mate Megan took the "fishing guys" out to a nearby secret spot, and when they came back - well, let's just say that's why they call it “fishing” and not “catching”! Angie and Stef had some hot white chocolate and a big tray of Fernando's cinnamon sugar cookies waiting for them, so the anglers weren't disappointed for long! After a real Alaskan dinner (elk, anyone?), we anchored for the night in Jack's Cove, watching the humpbacks blow in the distance and looking forward to our two-day Glacier Bay adventure that starts tomorrow. Regards,. Captain Rob Earle & The Crew of the Safari Quest
Yacht: Safari Escape Day 6: We docked in Petersburg behind our sister ship, the Safari Explorer. Shortly after docking we noticed she was getting underway with a full deck of guests onboard, heading out into Fredrick Sound for her own Alaskan adventure. Our guests were shown the sights of Petersburg and the fish processing and caviar plants; returning for a quick lunch then off across the way for a hike. The kids all helped Dirk with skiff operations while they checked out the Sea Lions on the entrance buoy. Today was a relaxed & laid back day which ended with a dinner celebration for the wedding anniversary of two guests celebrating their 14 years of marriage. Glasses were raised and secrets of success were shared. Captain Rick Brewer & The Crew of the Safari Escape
Yacht: Safari Quest Day 5: We started off at South Marble Island with a great view of Stellar Sea Lions lounging on the rock formations. We then moved just a few hundred yards northward and were greeted by swimming Sea Lions and Puffins. We spent 45 minutes at South Marble Island and then headed towards North Sandy Cove. Once there, we off-loaded the kayaks and made way the skiff. North Sandy Cove is surrounded by tall snow capped mountains with the tree line beginning at about 2000 feet - a favorite area of the guests aboard the Safari Quest. We spotted three Brown Bears just inside the little creek that flows into the cove and spotted another Brownie strolling along the shore. This is a great skiff and kayak adventure spot. We then turned north and headed for Gloomy Knob in search of Mountain Goats. As we passed the "Knob", it seemed as though the goats were higher up the mountain, so we kept cruising north for our night anchorage spot at Russell Island. It was a quiet night for our guests to enjoy card playing and just relaxing with a good book. Day 6: We made our way to Margerie Glacier and were amazed by the hugh calving's we saw. In fact, we saw three hugh chunks explode and plunge into the bay - what a sight! We then headed towards Lamplugh Glacier while enjoying a beautiful brunch prepared by our brilliant galley staff. At Lamplugh glacier we strolled along the beach near the glacier and skiffed among the floating ice. We even spotted another brown bear along the shore. What a great day. As we prepared for our cruise back to Bartlett Cove, our Ranger gave a wonderful talk about our visit to Glacier Bay National Park. We awoke this morning to a little rain but not to worry, our guests were starting the process of reflection from a special time spent aboard the Safari Quest. Captain Al Sottosanti & the crew of the Safari Quest
Yacht: Safari Quest Day 4: Since we were in this area ahead of schedule, we had 3 hours to view the action. We were sad to have to leave the show but we all agreed that we needed to say our farewell. As we headed towards Idaho Inlet, the thoughts of what we all had just witnessed were fresh in our minds. As we anchored in Idaho Inlet, we offloaded kayaks and boarded the skiff. Our kayakers enjoyed the sight of three large brown bears on the beach and the fishermen in the skiff were thrilled to catch their limit of Dolly Varden for the smoker. We played for about 3 hours in Idaho Inlet and then pulled anchor heading for our evening anchorage, Jacks Cove. We dropped anchor and our fisherman and fisherwomen couldn't wait to "bait-up". And for good reason, we were at the hot spot for halibut. Just as we were dropping our bait to the bottom, wham, fish-on. We caught one halibut about 10 lbs. two about 20 lbs. and one monster about 50 lbs. We also lost a couple bigger fish that just managed to shake the hook. I'll say 300 pounders just because they got away. Tomorrow, we'll pull anchor at 0630 sharp and enter into Glacier Bay where our guests will enjoy a nice hike and then will visit the Lodge before traveling deeper into the bay for additional excursions both on the land and water. Captain Al Sottosanti & the crew of the Safari Quest
Yacht: Safari Escape Day 7: By 1030 we watched as Red Throated Phalaropes (birds) gathered in a tight group on the waters nearby, just as soon as I said "keep your eye on the birds", a Humpback surfaced in the middle. After the Humpback dove back down, we watched the birds follow his bubbles, then group together again. Seconds before the whale surfaced they cleared the center marking the spot where we would see the whale surface. We watched this repeat several times over the next 45 minutes, when suddenly the birds flew directly at us and landed just yards from our bow. With all propulsion in neutral, we watched the whale surface just off our bow. We waited for the whale to move on, then engaged our propellers and continued onwards. We continued on to the Brother Islands while our guests were served lunch, just as the meal was completed we arrived at the sea lion haul out. The crew skiffed the guests around the island for a close-up view of the wildlife and vegetation. By 1430 hrs, we were heading north through Stephens Passage toward our evening anchorage, approximately 28 nm away. Fortunately, we were not so successful as we stopped and watched one of the best whale shows yet this year. We were surrounded by whales for the next 3 1/2 hours, each seeming to compete for our attention! Our afternoon theme song went something like - "Whales to the left, whales to the right, stuck in the middle with views!" We would stop and the whales would pass along side displaying all their wonders. Many of the guests were getting dizzy from spinning around on the bow as whales approached from all angles! Finally, I put on my black hat and turned the Safari Escape away from the relentless whale displays and headed toward Wood Spit at 1855 hrs! As the hook and the sun go down at Wood Spit, our guests are joined on an evening kayak by Woody, the local Humpback! I never had to don the rubber suit or get wet today! Today was a WHALE of a day! Captain Rick Brewer & The Crew of the Safari Escape
Yacht: Safari Escape Day 3 We left our berth in Ketchikan at 0700 hrs heading southbound in the East Tongass Narrows channel. As we rounded the southern end of Revillagigedo Island, we witnessed Dall’s Porpoise feeding on a herring ball along a tidal bloom line in the calm seas. We swung a wide turn and came around to watch the feeding frenzy! A few minutes later as the herring ball dispersed, we nosed closer as the porpoise split into three smaller groups. One came toward us, another off to our port side and the third were off in search of more food. We then turned back to continue our journey, spotting more groups of these playful sea mammals along the way. At Fox Point we were again diverted from our course to watch a beautiful large black bear on the beach. As we inched in for a closer look the bear was more occupied with turning over large rocks and scouring the beach for breakfast delights. After several minutes he noticed our yacht with a bow full of photo snapping guests and gave us the money pose, displaying a full body shot and looking into the cameras! We then politely backed off and again returned to our course for Walker Cove. Another photo opportunity presented itself as we positioned the yacht for a photo of New Eddystone Rock with the snow peaked mountains in the background. We finally made the entrance to Walker Cover at 1415 hours, pausing at Heather Falls as two our of crew and one guest took a cold water shower on the bow as we slipped into the waterfall with the yachts bow. The remaining guests were happy to stand back snapping photos just outside the waters spray! Before we could drop our anchor, our old friends, a Brown bear and 2 cubs were on the beach at our anchorage as if to remind us we were late in arriving. They have greeted us on the past three visits! The kayaks were lowered and quickly manned ounce we dropped our anchor. By popular request, we will spend the night here, then leave in the morning for Yes Bay. Captain Rick Brewer & The Crew of the Safari Escape
Yacht: Safari Escape July 5th & 6th, 2008: As soon as the hook went down the guest set out the crab pot and investigated the bay via kayaks. Sunday morning the guests departed for charter fishing from Yes Bay lodge. Four fish were captured and returned to the Safari Escape by midday. We sailed for Walker Cover with afternoon showers and light winds. Again the porpoise were there to guide our way down the east side of Behm Canal. Upon entering Walker Cove, we headed over to Heather Waterfalls, where we filled our water pitcher with fresh water from the falls. As I nosed the bow into the falls everyone seemed to turn and look up toward the bridge. All faces had the look as if “hey! don't you see what's in front?”. Then smiles appeared as everyone got their photo taken on the bow in the falls. Water was shared and we backed away. When we arrived at our anchorage we were greeted by bears on the beach, not one beach but both beaches - left & right! We delayed dropping the hook as the guests rode the skiff over to meet with a Brown Bear and her two cubs. After a short conference with the bear, we followed their advice and dropped our hook a short distance away, so as not to intrude on their relaxation period. The guest dined on Rack of Lamb and fresh Salmon (their catch), while the bears continued to frolic on the beached, viewed thru the windows of the dining room. As soon as diner was completed and desert devoured, kayaks were over the side and guest were all about in the bay. Tomorrow, we head for Ketchikan and Flightseeing! Hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!
Yacht: Safari Escape July 4th, 2008: Our chef, Tom, made the 4th memorable with a hamburger, hot dog, corn on the cob and watermelon lunch, then a BBQ Rib and Crab Feed for the evening meal. We had a great view of the Petersburg fireworks display as well as several nearby independent displays. Tomorrow we will trek to Yes Bay, hoping to spot Whale and Bear along the way. Sunday our guest will join the folks from Yes Bay Lodge for guided fishing in Behm Canal. We will update you on the catch report! Wishing you all a happy and Safe Holiday Weekend.
Yacht: Safari Escape July 3rd, 2008: Unsure how to top this, we turned toward Thomas Bay to make our way to a night anchorage, only to be interrupted by a Humpback Cow & Calf logging along just west of Portage Bay. We had to stop and pay our respects to the new family and welcome the Calf to Alaska! We made anchorage at 2045 hrs inside Thomas Bay, where the guests and three crew members set off into the Cascade Creek Hike above the waterfall. Tomorrow, we will celebrate Independence Day in Petersburg with a parade, games, log rolling contest, BBQ picnic and fireworks! Wishing you all a festive and SAFE 4th of July!
Yacht: Safari Explorer Day 2: What a magical day we have had for our first day out. We boarded our very first Full Yacht Charter on the Safari Explorer in Juneau last night and I think that the family was just as inviting of us as we were of them. They are very excited about Alaska and just spending time together on board their "private yacht". Today started with an early hauling of the anchor in Funter Bay, and as we cruised out of the bay we encountered high clouds and flat calm seas! As we cruised on, the majority of the women enjoyed a morning stretching session on the upper deck with our wellness instructor Merlinda. As breakfast was being called, we continued our move towards Glacier Bay National Park. Upon entering Glacier Bay, the view of the beautiful snowy peaks greeted us with wonder of what the day had in store for us. Docked at Bartlett Cove the guests all headed up the ramp for a 1 mile walk in the old growth rain forest to enjoy the beautiful scenery and enjoy a bit of educational input from the Expedition Leaders and our Park Ranger. Once aboard we got underway and headed up bay. First stop: Boulder Islands. Here we encountered numerous Sea Otters floating on their backs just enjoying their day. Some even allowed us to get great photos and peeks from our binoculars. Next visit was to South Marble Islands where we viewed over a dozen puffins, hundreds of Stellar Sea Lions, Cormorants & Gulls. Once everyone had their fill, and a lone humpback had moved on, we headed farther up bay to Tidal Inlet where just before making the big turn in a Moose Mamma and her young were seen swimming across the channel. We all watched in amazement as they both scrambled out of the water and headed up the shore. Could this luck keep going?? Who knew that just around the corner we would find a large Brown Bear Sow with a 2-3 year cub rambling on the shoreline just south of Gloomy Knob. They both crossed into a river bed, with the mom stopping and laying down for a quick rinse off while the young chased birds and climbed the shoreline. I didn't know what else we could offer until right after that we found a Marmot up high on the hill top with 3 low lying goats a couple feet below. Soon, we realized that in all the fun and excitement our day had passed so fast that it was dinner time and we headed out up bay. Currently en route for our night anchorage at Russel Pass, we keep holding our breath to find out what else one lucky group could see in a single day! Day 3: Today, we awoke in Russel Passage, tucked into shore with views of high snow-covered mountain peaks and lush green hillsides. We pulled hook early to get a move on our day’s activities, heading straight for Margerie & Grand Pacific Glaciers. Upon arrival all came outside to watch in awe at the massive size of the majestically blue glacier face of Margerie. Standing on the bow the guests watched as bits of glacier calved down to the sea nearly 200 feet below, and were surprised with hot chocolate by our Hotel Manager, Dani. Word on the street was that this family "really wanted to kayak" so with a bit of a voyage plan change we decided to motor on to our next stop, Lamplugh Glacier, where we anchored and sent out kayakers and skiff riders. The kayakers took a leisurely paddle over to the west side of Lamplugh while the skiff motored to Jaw Point to view Johns Hopkins Glacier from afar. Once the groups returned they swapped out from skiff to kayak and vice versa. When all the kayaks were back onboard and the skiffs tied off we offered our “Junior Polar Bear Club” a chance to jump in for a quick dip... And I will say it was QUICK! With life jackets on the group jumped in and were helped out. All scurried up to the hot tub to combat the chill. We pulled hook and calculated that we had enough time to venture into Reid Inlet to offer a chance to walk ashore and possibly onto Reid Glacier. With the tides just right and no other boats doing activities we were able to send in two groups to shore to experience what it is like to look a glacier in the face! With smiles and a bit of glacier silt on their feet they all returned to the yacht. We pulled hook again and headed down bay to drop off our Park Ranger, David. At 2300 we anchored where we currently lie, just SW of Pt Adolphus. Where humpbacks surrounded the boat in the dim moonlight, and eagles came in to fish this morning. Can't wait to see what we find tomorrow! Until next trip...
Yacht: Safari Explorer Scott Carden, captain of American Safari Cruises' newest luxury yacht, the Safari Explorer, was interview in Petersburg, Alaska by Joe Viechnicki from local radio station KFSK. During her inaugural sailing the Explorer yacht and her crew were presented with commemorative gifts from Petersburg dignitaries including mayor Al Dwyer and Chamber of Commerce member Sally Dwyer. Listen to the Safari Explorer captain's interview here. The Safari Explorer yacht stops in the small Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg during its Juneau to Juneau roundtrip cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage.
Yacht: Safari Quest Day 5: But it wasn't over yet. After lunch, we spotted a couple of blue whales having a leisurely snack of their own. Then, after rounding Punta San Marcial, we came across what had to be the same group of orca the skiff had encountered earlier. Apparently, they weren't done with us yet. I've never seen anything like it: the orcas -- males, females, and young ones -- swam back and forth, playing in the surf, turning upside down. There were about eight or nine animals of various sizes that seemed to be following us. After some time, we recovered from our exciting wildlife encounter and turned toward our night anchorage at Agua Verde, but the exclamations of "Oh my God!" and "Wow!" continued well into dinner hour. Without a doubt the best orcas show I've ever seen anywhere, anytime. WOW! Regards,
Yacht: Safari Quest We began our morning with a hike up the hill to watch a beautiful sunrise over Isla Carmen and Puerto Ballendra. After breakfast, kayaking was the order of the morning. The water was so clear and calm that you could see the fish and other creatures as if you were looking into an aquarium. After leaving the anchorage we had our first contact with two Blue Whales who were lounging in the channel just east of Isla Danzante. Finally we anchored at Pyramid Cove for an evening of kayaking and snorkeling. Hasta luego,
Yacht: Safari Quest The last three days have been amazing! We arrived into Glacier Bay National Park on Wednesday and from there it was nothing but surprise after surprise! The trail loop walk was enjoyed by many while the lodge and the gifts shop were explored by others. Our Ranger Janeane Driscoll arrived at 10:30 am and greeted the guests with her usual welcoming smile! We launched from the dock as lunch was being served. We arrived at Boulder Island to enjoy views of sea otters in small groups of two or three, then larger groups of 20+. We enjoyed watching them play for quite some time then chose to move on the South Marble Island to enjoy puffins, sea lions, mew gulls, pigeon gillamonts, common mures, and even a juvenile bald eagle! The life on this island is quite amazing! Wondering what was in store for us next we moved on to North Sandy Cove where upon entering the small bay in between the two inlets, we found two black bears! They sauntered along the shoreline for quite some time, eating grasses and checking out the inner tidal zone. Guests on the sundeck enjoyed the views from a telescope that a guest had brought. Reports of seeing the bears teeth ran through the boat! A few kayakers ventured out, while others went off to view the bear by skiff. We left North Sandy in hopes of catching a bit of the remaining day light on Gloomy Knob just outside Tidal Inlet. With the clouds lifting our daylight lasted longer than expected so we cruised into Tidal where we hit another jackpot of animals! Our first mountain goat cruised the rocky mountain side just inside the inlet and shortly after that we spotted a very large brown bear that cruised the rocky shore unaware of our presence! We sat with the goat for about a half an hour before focusing on the brown bear, where we spent another half hour. He was still cruising the beach as we headed on. Outside Tidal we found lots of mountain goats with babies on Gloomy knob. All the guests were out on deck to enjoy! The Next morning was filled with glaciers! Our first stop of Margerie and Grand Pacific gave us quite a bit of nice calving and a beautiful view before brunch. At Jaw Point we discovered Johns Hopkins Inlet and Johns Hopkins Glacier! An absolutely beautiful sight to see the winding glacier make its way up into the Fairweather Range. We next stopped at Lamplugh for a slow cruise checking it out and then moved onto Reid Inlet where almost all guests chose to do a walk along the shore in front of Reid Glacier. Noted as the Highlight of the trip all were full of smiles on their way back to the boat. We cruised back to Bartlett Cove that Night to drop off Ranger Janeane and head out to Jacks Cove for the night. Along the way we spotted a humpback whale in the distance that was rolling in the water just enjoying him/herself. It even waved to us as we passed by with its wing like pectoral fin. We awoke this morning to sunny blue skies and white capped mountains all around us. We spent the morning enjoying a humpback whale side skimming on the surface and then sea otters in large rafts on our way into Idaho Inlet. We anchored and brought a group of guests ashore for an inner tidal walk where the Expedition Leader explained what was being seen. Another group of guests set out on the kayaks and spent some time alone reflecting on the beauty and serenity. Once all returned onboard, we had a few crazy takers for the rope swing and some good old fashioned swimming. The breathtaking water, though bitter, was refreshing. Lunch service was called and during lunch we headed out in search of more marine life. Along the way there were additional opportunities to see black bears, otters, humpbacks, sea lions, harbor porpoise and an amazing view of the surrounding snow capped mountain ranges. Until next trip...
Yacht: Safari Quest This has been a week of Baja surprises and PURE Baja fun!! Below are a few of the highlights from the daily journal that I give guests. This is a small list of our daily adventures in the Sea of Cortés. Every day we get up we await the surprises that delight and ignite our sense of mystery and passion about this oasis. Sunday, March 11 Monday, March 12 Tuesday, March 13 Wednesday, March 14 Thursday, March 15 More to come...
Yacht: Safari Quest Day Two: This animal was huge. We guestimated 95+ feet of mammal as it broke the surface. We were able to convince the guests that breakfast could be eaten later and that this was worth a trip to the bow or sundeck. All the guests joined us outside as we marvled at this animals size. At one point the whale came up behind us and seemed to be following our tender as we turned to look at it. Next time we saw it, it's massive body was parallel to the Safari Quest giving us a perfect size comparison. During one of this Blue Whale dives we spotted a blow a bit farther away. Could it be?? Another Whale?? Surely our whale didn't travel over a mile in the short time we lost sight of it... So we scooted over to see, and we were pleasantly surprised to find a bit smaller Blue Whale who was enjoying some lazy swimming on the surface. This whale was estimated to be in the 70' range giving us the impression that it was a 1-2 year old that had not fully grown. It too gave us quite a good look as we waited anxiously for it's next rise to the surface. After quite a few hours of viewing these animals, Kevin, our Expedition Leader, decided to gather everyone in the salon to talk a bit about Marine Mammals and whales in particular. Since we started off with the largest whale, we figured we should introduce some smaller ones also in case we get a chance to see them. So we headed on our way south to check out a new spot. We cruised into Cosme Pt. slow and easy during lunch and sent the skiff ahead to do some pre-op explorations. Finding that the depths are much better than anticipated, the skiff went out from the the reef that separates Isla San Cosme and San Damian Island and found a excellent snorkel spot. So shortly after lunch and we were anchored, Kevin and Danny gathered up the guests and introduced them to snorkeling. At that time, 10 adventurers suited up and loaded up to head out. The snorkel brought great surprises of Sea Stars, King Angel Fish, Puffer Fish, Seargent Majors, and much more. All were delighted with what their adventure had brought them, and about 45 minutes later they returned to the vessel to warm up in the hot tub with cocktails or dry off and enjoy our short cruise to our night anchorage. Here we sit anchored in 18' of water at a beautiful endless beach just northwest of Agua Verde on the peninsula. Most guests are ashore with beach chairs, towels, coolers full of their favorite drinks, snakes (including fresh baked cookies) and are awaiting what looks to be a wonderful sunset in the making. Not a bad way to start an amazing week-long adventure. Captain Shawnda Gallup
Yacht: Safari Quest Day Two: Upon relocating to Colorado Point on Isla Carmen, en route to a snorkel and beach landing area, we spotted our first giant marine mammal, the Blue Whale! The Blue Whale is truly an amazing creature. This whale was close to the fully mature size of 90’-100’and had the most perfect triangle shaped tail you could imagine. This particular Blue Whale could be identified by a very distinct gash just before the dorsal fin. He had a 4-6" wide by at least a foot deep gash that was visible from any angle. With spending over an hour viewing the Blue Whale, we passed on the idea of a snorkel at Isla Carmen to begin our journey south. Just before lunch was to be served, we crossed paths with another Blue Whale just northwest of Las Galeras Island (just above Monserrate Island). After only seeing this whale once (along with a few jumping Cabana's) we gathered our hungry guests in the dining room for a delectable lunch of Tortilla soup with Mexican style corn bread, followed by a maple custard with sugared pecans and vanilla ice cream. A dessert lovers treat! After lunch, the guests were feeling the “Mexican style” and requested time for an hour-long siesta. This worked out perfectly as it provided an opportunity for exploring Monserrate Island, since we were in the area. After looking over the guides and maritime charts we opted to check out the southwest anchorages and located a perfect spot that had been protected from a residual swell out of the north. Once anchored, the remainder of our day was spent with kayaking and other water activities. Several guests enjoyed the warm sun on the upper deck, some extending their hour siestas while others explored the underwater world via snorkeling. At this southwest anchorage we located a few reefs where the water was protected, offering a wonderful chance for tropical fish viewing. Day 3: Once the first group departed, three guests choose to snorkel while others enjoyed some beach time. The snorkel at Roca Solitaria was perfect. We had light winds, sunshine and visibility of at least 25'. Guests noted numerous Seargent Majors and Lobsters swimming amongst the rocky edge pinicals. Once the guests had their fill of snorkeling they returned back for a warm up in the hot tub while they waited for the burro group to return. The second group departed for their burro ride. The returning guests heard about the great snorkeling so all were willing participants for a run out to the rock. Upon the return of the final burro riders, we pulled hook and headed out of Bahia Agua Verde in search of our next adventure. Arriving just north of Isla San Jose, we came upon a group of at least 100 common dolphins who were very accommodating and allowed us to join their race and ride our bow. After a few passes we opt to take advantage of our good fortune by dropping the skiffs. Kevin and Tate loaded the guests onboard and raced towards the dolphin group. Shortly afterwards the Quest had met up with them. We all had the opportunity to weave in and out of the large pod to get an up-close look! One skiff would have their hydrophone down listening to the dolphins talking while the other sped up to get them to ride the bow wake. After two hours of viewing the skiffs returned with all smiles aboard. More than once I got the response of "now that was worth the price of admission"! We are currently anchored in one of my favorite bays, Ensenada Grande where tomorrow morning we will offer early morning activities before we have our big brunch buffet. Captain Shawnda Gallup
Yacht: Safari Quest Day Two: We arrived in Idaho Inlet and happened upon a large raft of sea otters just as the sun was poking through the clouds. Once arriving at the head of the bay, we anchored and dropped the kayaks for our first kayak adventure. All 8 of our double kayaks went out towards the head of the bay in search of bear, mink and seals towards the head of the bay. The other guests enjoyed a skiff ride with Mate Tate, encountering seals, eagles and the top of a brown bear's back in the tall grasses. Once all arrived back onboard, half the guests went on a beach walk while the others leisurely relaxed in the lounge with cocktails and appetizers. Just as dinner service was finishing and the sun was setting, weencountered another group of humpbacks prior to anchoring for the evening. Day Three: Day Four found us underway from Russell Passage to Johns Hopkins Inlet. While en route we viewed hundreds of surf scoters and the beauty of Lamplugh Glacier. Upon arrival, at our 1/4 From Johns Hopkins we began to make our way south. A few hours into the cruising we came Today, Day Five, we rounded Point Augusta, at which point Mate Tate spotted humpbacks along the shore in a group of 9. I slowed down the yacht to get in closer. To our surprise the humpbacks were bubble net feeding. What a show! With them all fluking in sequence, then coming up out of the water with their mouths wide open, all in a group, it was spectacular. Lunch of course was delayed an hour just so some time could be spent with these creatures. Only 15 miles from our planned afternoon anchorage, we spotted yet another large group of humpbacks in Lyoukeen Cove and all the guests agreed "we should go do things we can't do With everyone enjoying the whales outside for so long, the crew decided to make up special hot cider in glass mugs with apple slices on the edge along with a rim of caramel and sugar. Delivered with fresh baked cookies, everyone was recharged and ready to continue watching. At one point the bubble net and lunge feeding was seen less than a hundred feet off the bow of the boat as the whales worked the waters around us. We didn't have to move as they just kept coming up closer and closer. After close to three hours with the whales we decided to skip Pavlof Harbor and head directly to our night anchorage. The guests response was "we've had enough for the day!" So as we head south in Chatham Strait the guests are enjoying another delicious creation from the galley and fine wine while reflecting on the experiences we have had during the past five days. Captain Shawnda Gallup
|
|
