Cruising the Inside Passage - Hubbard Glacier
Highlights
Made a committed start on Mother’s Day to get a window seat for pancakes and champagne for a toast to all the Mothers. Happy Mother’s Day to all and sundry.
The day did start out with a few rays of sunshine - a slither of blue sky and a false promise of good weather.
We had been through a bit of a rough patch over night with wind and swells and were a little shaken up. Again, despite all of the off the chart predictions for views of the #Northern Lights, our journey was blanketed in clouds. Probably the wildest night for a while on board - made those midnight treks to the toilet feel like a tightrope walker's balancing act.
That little dash of morning sunshine was just fleeting - it was back to the mist and rain that has characterised our trip. Again, sad to report, not a single speck of a clear sky during the night so there was no announcement by the @Captain to tell us to get out and view the aurora. We continue to wake each morning to an around the world view of those amazing skies. To be fair, we’d settle for a glimpse of blue skies at the moment.
The highlight on the itinerary today was a scenic cruise to take in the grandeur of #Hubbard Glacier. Have to report that we were glad we had watched the documentary on TV because it was not a scenic nor panoramic views kind of day.
Lots of services close down on the ship as you cruise through the glaciers and by 3 pm it was pretty quiet. We took the ice pilot and the Rangers on board as we rounded into #Yakatut Bay and then received regular heads up in relation to what we were passing. Only brave souls were out on the deck as we made "steady as she goes" progress through the bay towards the glacier (me for about 2 minutes at a time) and then the rest of the time, we were tucked up in the warm dry cabin behind our glass windows. Interestingly, once the ship had traversed the arm of the Bay and was in position for viewing, there was no wind at all. It became quite still and then the deterrents were the cold, the rain and the snow. There was lots of ducking in and out at this point and certainly, with layers - including the long white stateroom gown - you could stay out in 10 minute bursts.
The weather continued in its misery - the clouds and mist were very low and visibility was poor as we approached #Hubbard. Didn’t quite make it to Haenk Island (pronounced Hanky) - which would have been the turning point to give a view of the face of the glacier. The water was littered with icebergs and you could hear the thunder of the ice as it calved further into the bay. At one stage @Mac spotted the waves that were created by the tumbling towers of ice, lap the far shore. In our position, we were still a good 6 kms from the face of #Hubbard.
Woulda-coulda-shoulda no doubt this would have been spectacular. #Hubbard is the longest tidewater glacier in North America. The glacier inches forward as a river of ice for some 120 kms and meets the sea with a calving face nearly 10 kms wide. It was this 10 km face that we were trying to approach.
The message from the bridge was that the water was too thick with ice for us to progress any further. Apparently the ship has a below water line series of bubbles that are emitted to keep the bergs away and to prevent them from "sticking" to the hull. The @Captain stayed in the one spot here for about 50 minutes, doing very slow pirouettes (and blowing bubbles apparently) so everyone had a vantage point to take in the views. On an "ideal" day we would have been a mere 800 metres from the face of the glacier and its 90 metre towers of ice. Today, spinning in #Disenchantment Bay, guess we felt a little "disenchanted." At one stage, we thought the mist was lifting just a little and maybe, just maybe, we could progress, but no such luck.
No views of the mighty #Hubbard for us - we had persisted from 3 pm till 6 30 pm. Amazing how time just flies by when you are dashing in and out between the deck and the stateroom- binoculars and camera in hand - trying to catch a glimpse of wild life, ice bergs, waterfalls and glaciers. Perched high up and right out the front we are spoiled for choice in what we can see. We are trying to be mindful that we are not in everyone’s pictures and of course are waving to people along their balconies and sharing hushed snippets of conversation with those nearby. Kept our energy up with hot tea and chocolate cookies delivered to the room and our interest was constantly piqued by commentary shared from the bridge. An exhilarating afternoon.
Had to have a whole process for drying stuff out going on - had towels down on the floor over the carpet, had the heater cranked up and the clothesline out in the shower. Need all of that stuff ready and dry for tomorrow’s foray into #Glacier Bay.
It was approaching 8 pm before we were all sorted and ready to head out. Skipped the show - a repeat of an earlier production - and made our way to the dining room for a #Formal Night dinner. The menus continue to change every night - and now they feature the #Alaskan influence. Plenty of seafood choices, again fabulous pastas made right there in the dining room and @Mac continues his attempt to work his way through the cocktail menu. Despite his best efforts - he hasn’t even made a dent in it - and with less than a week to go - thinking he is "no chance."
A lot of hoping, wishing and dreaming going on out here - would love another chance at the aurora over night and hopeful of a successful exploration in #Glacier Bay tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
PS Admitting I was motion sick today. Find the very best thing is just to hit the bed. I literally staggered back from breakfast and didn't even make it to my side of the bed - collapsed onto the bed as I entered the doorway and awoke some 4 hours later ready for a cup of tea. The sea bands were back on ( should never have taken them off) and I had the luxury of some ProCalm. At least my head had stopped spinning. I was very happy to hole up in the stateroom for the morning and was grateful to literally be back on deck for the afternoon's attempt at #Hubbard.
Weather: 1 degree
Steps: 3 533
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