AUGUST 14TH, 2009, GLACIER BOAT CRUISE

It was really hard to get up and get started this AM. It was raining and cold and we were all going on a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound. Oh and did I mention it was foggy. Not much reason to be excited and a nice day to just take it easy. But, we made ourselves ready with all the warm, wet weather clothes we could fit into and headed out. Boy, were we glad we did.

Our cruise was 9 hours long and included both the Columbia and Meirs glacier as well as sea life and the Alaska pipeline terminal. Our boat was the Stan Stephens and was a 52'catamaran and really nice. As we started out, we couldn't see a whole lot but the fog did lift a little bit. Our first stop was of the Columbia glacier and we saw lots of icebergs but were unable to get closer than 9 miles to the glacier due to the icebergs. As a result of the fog, we were unable to get a view of the Columbia Glacier, but the icebergs were spectacular. I just fell in love with the little sea otters just floating around on their backs like they didn't have a care in the world. From there we preceded on a 2 hour trip to the Meirs glacier. On the way, we were served a delightful lunch of baked chicken with a cream sauce, rice, veggies and oreo cookies. Very nice. It was raining outside but we were warm and dry inside. The Meirs glacier was spectacular. It was 250-300' high. It was a half mile wide and 50 square miles in area. To see that large a mass of ice bordered by green trees and mountains was really neat. This glacier is actually progressing where the Columbia is regressing. The Columbia is at least 2x as big -they say.

We saw harbor seals floating on icebergs at the base of the glacier and sea otters and sea lions, eagles, puffins and many other types of birds as well as a Minke whale and a humpback whale. Not bad for a day that started out so dismal.

On the way back, we saw an oil tanker being escorted out (they do this since the Exxon Valdez incident), the Alaska pipeline terminal and a cove where the pilot boats for the tankers anchor. All this while we enjoyed a cup of clam chowder that was very good and warming. Did I say it was still raining. We ran in and out when we spotted something for pictures, but I won't kid you -it was cold!!!

We got back to the harbor at 7 PM and headed back to our RV's and no one has emerged except to walk their dogs. Tomorrow is a free day and as the rain is expected to increase tonight, I can guarantee there will be some late risers in the morning.