Cruising the Inside Passage - Sitka
Highlights
I am reflecting on my reflections and reflecting that there have been a lot of reflections on the weather of late.
Seriously, what did we expect? We are in a relocation cruise - means we are arriving here in #Alaska at the very beginning of their summer season. This is not “prime time.” This is the “shoulder season.”
I Dr Googled #Sitka to learn ....
… #Sitka gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 236 days per year.
And the site was kind enough to define what precipitation is:
Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground — um really, well thank you ..
And then #Whittier .....
Whittier gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 211 days per year.
And then #Juneau, because we are heading there tomorrow for gold panning!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - oh, $h!t we’ll be IN the water (maybe we should have done this research earlier) .....
#Juneau gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 236 days per year.
Now you have to laugh - because we are really laughing. There is nothing we can do about the weather - except complain and act surprised when it pans out exactly as predicted. Needed to keep that @Gary “panning” pun for tomorrow when undoubtedly we will be "complaining and surprised" that it’s raining in #Juneau - while gleefully frolicking in the water panning for gold.
With all that said, the truth is, that out on our little 7.30 am boat ride this morning, in the calm waters of #Sitka, I am STILL reflecting on the weather, and can’t help myself but to continue with the whingey whiney narrative - we were seriously cold. Cold to the bone. Bizarrely, the weather forecast was for a 9 degree high - somehow we did not have the luxury of feeling it.
We felt we had dressed for success - I was really layered up - singlet, thermal, shirt (made a mistake here, it was cptton — a wasted layer), jumper, puffer jacket, rain jacket, thermal long johns, long pants, ski socks, leather shoes, gloves, hat ..... it was almost like those giant comedic sumo suits you don for match-up wrestling.
Everything is very organised for these excursions. No line up inside - you are just given a time to be on the pier - swipe your Medallion and you are away. Literally walked from the cruise ship onto "The Eagle." Hot chocolate drinks and coffees were offered along with a mini donut treat to get you settled. Each row of seats was provided with a microfibre cloth to wipe down the condensation on the inside and in our case, the water from outside so that you could take in the views.
It was a quick dash a across the harbour of #Sitka to #Fin Island. We were a little surprised because we thought we had an included lunch, but turns out, we were first cab off the rank and were headed to breakfast.
Can’t complain really. A beautiful wooden structure - all places set and ready. @Mac had enjoyed a juice and a breakfast egg roll at 6.30 on board and that hadn’t impacted his appetite. Lined up at 8.30 for clam chowder and best of all, our warmed crab claws complete with melted butter. The couple we were seated next to didn’t like seafood and were asking for beef ribs! No luck for them, and if we had known earlier, would have teed them up to take their portion and pass it our way.
Cracked, snapped and sucked our way through those beauties and with plenty of food in our bellies we were thawed and ready for the next part of the adventure.
Then it was two hours with @Tori, the Naturalist, on board "The Eagle" cruising through the mist and rain looking for wildlife. It was slim pickings.
Mind you, the cove with the Gray Whales was very entertaining. And surprisingly, when the flukes were making their surprise appearance followed by their elegant ascent into the water, you didn’t feel the cold. @Captain Kim nudged us in and we quietly watched as 8 to 10 whales sent up their plumes of water from the blow hole, showed us their knuckled, finless backs and swam on. In front, behind, left and right, lots of action. As they moved out of the cove, we didn’t "chase them" - just let them peacefully wander on to their next playground.
Once they disappeared, the numb of the cold finally registered and I kept inside tucked up on a hot air vent. @Mac did repeated brave and solo dashes to get a view of the 6 foot otter dealing with its sea urchin using a little rock to crack it open, the floating kelp probably growing cms before our very eyes, the eagle and its eerie and a few ducks. This little live collection outdoors, combined with the specimems and exhibits @Tori had on board, made up the rest of the adventure.
We enjoyed the morning experience but were extremely grateful that we could have a little dash around the heated shops on the pier, pose with the eagle and bear and then head back to the cocoon of the ship.
Definitely had no desire to get out on the open deck for more whale watching but were keen for a hot toddy and a snack. After removing a multitude of layers, grabbed a window seat in #Horizons and did the complete opposite of "chilling!"
Shore days are pretty quiet on board I have to say. Lots of advertising for spas and skin treatments and rejuvenation but not much of the "yahoo" entertainment that allows people watching. Had to be content watching the comings and goings of the crusie ship that was tied up next to us to fill in the afternoon.
It was Italian night in the restaurant and we certainly loved our choices of both food and drink. But the best was the conversation with the #Canadian couple who were our dinner elbow partners tonight. Of course. "Did you go ashore today" was early in the conversation and hilarity prevailed. There we were locked up in the "relative" warmth of our little boat "The Eagle," bobbing on top of the water, and this mid 60s couple had been splashing around in wet suits snorkelling. They obviously make them tough in #Canada. Seriously, they recounted tales of chasing the rockfish that featured on tonight’s menu and had tales and photos to prove it of them fondling the kelp forests which (we know this becaise we attended our Naturalist talks) could quite possibly provide the next virus healing solution for the world. While of course, we were talking about shivering on Deck and sucking on warmed crab claws dipped in heated butter. While we ran home to the ship, they joined an afternoon group for an e-Bike tour and a walk in the woods. Yep, these Canadians are wild!
Have sort of developed a thing for piano concerts. To round out tonight, we joined #Chris Lash for a high energy show — lots of piano, plenty of the orchestra — and his toe tapping playing was accompanied by his strong vocals. Another talented #Vegas showman doing the cruise ship rounds.
Made it home by midnight so we have plenty of time to change our attitude and recalibrate the mindset for tomorrow - need to swallow a cup of concrete and toughen up - that dip in the creek looking for gold is going to be AWESOME. Bring it on.
Weather: I don’t care what the predicted max was — it was COLD. Officially — 9 degrees
Steps: 6 698
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