Here There and Everywhere

Seward, Alaska and Alaska Saltwater Tours

We made it to Seward, a cute little town that almost disappears when the tourist season ends. As you will see, there is a cruise ship here, and most of the cruise ship tourists book with either Major Marine or Kenai Fjords. If you like boats with a lot of people, you will enjoy either of those. If you prefer smaller boats, with fewer people, there is Alaska Saltwater Tours.

“Are you going halibut fishing?” the girl at the Windsong Lodge Desk asked when we said we were going with Alaska Saltwater Tours, little frowny lines forming between her eyebrows. No, no, we replied, wildlife and whale watching, in a small group. I guess the hotel books tours, but mostly for the bigger tour boats. We made our reservations months ago, we were so sure we wanted this boat, the Alaska Saltwater Tour.

Cruise ships berth in Seward:

We had a totally forgettable dinner, the worst clam chowder I have ever eaten, so no photos. The next day, we met up at The Bakery, from where we headed to our boat.

I don’t usually have pastry, but I could not resist that cinnamon roll. It was so huge, I could only eat a little, but they wrapped it in foil and AdventureMan and I were able to nibble on it mid-afternoon, as we watched more and more whale.

Our boat, the Stellar Sunrise, carried 15 people. AdvenuteMan and I believe it is one of the best day cruises we have ever taken. We never dreamed we would see so much wildlife in one day.

Alaska, how I love you. Alaska has a mandatory life vest program for all children. Not only are life vests mandatory, they are also provided FREE. When I think of true love, it is manifestations like this I think of, protecting children, making it impossible for anyone to have an excuse to have a child on board not in a life jacket.

Scenery leaving Seward:

Little otter saying goodbye – later, we saw a RAFT of otter, two by two, about 18 of them floating in a group. They are so CUTE.

Barely out of port, he find humpback whales, puffing and diving:

Its a very low minus tide, and our Captain Tanya finds a grouping of purple and red sea stars – doesn’t it look like modern art?

Mountain goat:

A family of mountain sheep, Dad, Mom and three little kids:

Orca whale!

Penguin like birds, not penguins, but I can’t remember their name:

Throughout the day we had porpoise playfully racing alongside the boat:

Puffins are so hard to photograph, and so adorable!

A slug of sea lions, LOL – don’t they look a little like slugs?

The big bull sea lion roars and chases off a challenger. You would be amazed how loud he can roar:

Another eerily beautiful glacier, with it’s roaring and cracking, deep, loud sounds like the earth groaning. We had a lunch break at the glacier:

Although it is out of sequence, I saved this for the last. Do you know how many times I have tried to get a shot of a whale’s tail? Timing has to be perfect, even if you shoot in bursts. I will admit it, this time I just got lucky, and this might be the best I ever get:

So, all in all, a “whale of a day!”

June 27, 2014 - Posted by intlxpatr | Alaska, Beauty, Environment, Travel, Wildlife | AK, Alaska Saltwater Wildlife Tours, humpback whale, Orca whale, Puffins, sea stars, Seward, Stellar Sea Lion