We are on the move again -- up by 6 am -- bags outside door by 8 am -- breakfast at Starbucks and by 9 am we're on the bus to Seward. This time Kyle is behind the wheel -- another great Alaska bus driver.
We are going to the Kenai Peninsula -- known as "Alaska's Playground". Here are some facts we learned from Kyle: 10 % of the wold's known volcanoes are in Alaska --- Alaska and Chile are the most active places for seismic activity in the world -- "Perma Frost" is a condition that is everywhere in northern Alaska and spotty in southern Alaska: typically 4 to 6 feet below the surface -- it stunts tree growth since it limits root growth -- Alaska's state flower is: "For Get Me Not" -- less than 1% of Alaska's land is developed -- in Seward sunny weather is called "cloud failure".
We arrive in Seward at 10:55 am -- and are ushered immediately onto a vessel which departs the harbor at 11:30 am. It is the Aialik, a catamaran, where for 6 hours we will be on the water looking at glaciers and hoping to spot wildlife.
We have a wonderful trip -- better than I expected. We spotted porpoises, sea lions, sea otters, puffins, two different humpback whales (one towards the end of the day put on quite a show), and a family of orca (killer) whales. The mountains surrounding Resurrection Bay are something to see -- words cannot do justice to these vistas.
We arrive back in Seward at 5:30 pm -- Phil and I walk the half mile to the ship to get some exercise. Embarkation goes smoothly -- our cabin is on Deck Nine starboard towards the stern -- close to all the food venues.
We have dinner at 8 pm in the Rotterdam Dining Room at our assigned table for six -- Sharon and John are on board but Sharon hurt her back before she left so is taking it easy for a few days but John joins us for dinner and it is delightful.
I finish unpacking and fall into bed --- nice to know I don't have to go anyplace tomorrow.
Thanks for Reading!
Pat
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