SEWARD,  AK

July 24, 2011

Today I became a Junior Ranger.  I now have a badge from the onboard National Park Ranger while on the Kenai Fjord cruise.  The 5 hour cruise included a salmon and prime rib all you can eat buffet and later an AYCE dessert bar.  We were privileged to see a pod of humpback whales bubble feeding off the front end of our boat.  Even the gulls knew what was going on and when the whales would all surface towith small fish and krill.  It was quite impressive to see these "filter feeders" working together to corral their food.

 

It was a cold, breezy, rainy and foggy day out in the fjord but we did see otters, puffins, mountain goats, eagles, and sea lions.  I love the fog hanging at the top of the mountains.  As the boat moved further out of the fjord, the swells got to  3' or so and you had to grip a chair or hold onto a rail if you were not seated. Several people were looking a little green around the gills for a while.

We spent several hours at the Alaska Sealife Center.  About $37 million, only a portion of the Exxon Oil Spill settlement helped fund the aquarium.  This is the only ocean wildlife rescue center in Alaska for research, rehabilitation and education for marine life.  Exhibits include Stellar sea Lions, harbor seals, Puffins and a tank where you can touch sea stars, sea cucumbers, and more.  We took a behind-the-scenes tour.