We embarked at 8am after shuttling a mountain of stuff from the hotel to the
dock at Middle Harbor, the home of the M/V Chester B. Perry and I took the
luggage and the bags of junk food, wine, beer and liquor down to the top of the
dock where Capt. Kent met us with the rolling carts. The rest will be told
in the photo captions.
We motored for about eight hours to the Keku Islands, a distance of about
sixty miles. We anchored in the middle of a nautical freeway interchange that
had on and off ramps for boats, whales, birds and other creatures. It was
teaming with life. We had a great meal on deck and kayaked. I chased a whale,
which was not important except that I got out of sight of the boat, something
which I didn't think I would ever do.
Naturally, no day starts off right without breakfast. |
Captain, crew and interested bystanders review the map to decide where
to go. |
The day started off with excitement when Perry discovered that one of the
bottles of red wine was AWOL. Rachel ferried him in the skiff back to the
dock to hunt the little sucker down. As you can see, they were successful. |
While underway (a nautical term meaning we're driving somewhere)
Buck sleeps under the desk. He is quite comfortable there. I've tried it
but I don't fit as well. I also don't like small spaces. |
While we were waiting for Rachel and Perry to return with the wine, we
saw this view from the outer harbor. |
Another view of the outer passage from the harbor. We had a little
time on our hands. I guess the wine bottle gave them quite a run for their
money. |
Buck likes to ride in the front of the skiff because it means he will
be able to pee soon. |
The first in my continuing series of "Birds of North
America". These are called Bonaparte Gulls according to Capt. Kent, a
man with whom I will never argue.
If he says it, I believe it.
|
This is just a photo of a boat that passed us on the drive. I was
shooting anything I could with my 80-400 VR. |
The M/V Chester B at anchor near the village of Kake. |
Buck in repose. Who knows what goes on in the head of a dog. |
Buck in full. This was supposed to be fill flashed but turned out this
way. |
While Perry and the Pirates were chasing bears, Capt. Kent and I were
boat bound and got to watch the Dance of the Whales off shore. |
This is a real whale doing real whale behavior in a real Alaskan sea.
He is jumping from the sea. Capt Kent calls this Breaching. Nowell calls
this "Way, Way Cool!" |
Dinner on the veranda. I'm in the shadow in back. Perry took the shot.
I'm not tipsy, no matter what they say. That's my story and I'm stickn' to
it. |
Rachel lends an entirely new meaning to the term, crabby. |
Diana returns from chasing a whale after dinner. (A real whale, not
me.) |
Diana sets a new land speed record chasing after Maria and the Whale. |
The before dinner paddle. |
A view from my boat. You will have to believe me. I took the photo and
I'm driving my own kayak. |
The dolphins that drive Buck crazy. |
They jump in front of the boat and are hard to catch. |
Rachel restrains Buck, who has an adverse reaction to dolphins. We
think he should stay aboard, (a nautical term for "don't get
wet") instead of swimming with the fishes. |
Perry and the Pirates return from bear island. Perry tried to follow a bear into
the woods and only got his feet wet. |
Maria returns from chasing the whale. |
Maria tells it like it was. |
Perry on bear island. This is just below where the helicopter is
dropping the logs. |
The logging helicopter makes another run. |
Whale
Shots.
This is the one thing we try to photograph the most, besides Perry chasing
bears.
These were very cooperative. |
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Sunset on Day 1.
The photo is more dramatic than the actual event,
but it was a very nice way to end the day, anyway.
"Day is done. Gone the sun. From the Earth, from the Hills, from the
Sky." |
