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Pining for the Fjords

No cookies were tossed this afternoon, by me or anyone else on board.  No turkey on sourdough with tomato, mayo, mustard and onion, either.  Star of the Northwest was spared, as was the plankton rich, puffin pocked sea. It's a miracle of modern medicine (bonine) and a testament to the tranquility of Reserection Bay.  The mellow ride held fast until we hit the open ocean, where the swell was met with a storm that rolled in.  I stayed on deck for most of the trip, pelted with cold rain and a brisk, chilly wind that helped keep the queasiness away.  Gail hung with me for shorter stretches, then went inside for beers and warmth.  Thank goodness I had on my Gorton's Fishstick-guy hat.  

We saw eagles, stellar sea lions (on the rock in the middle of this photo), mountain goats, dahl porpoise, jelly fish, pink salmon and puffins.  The Kenai Fjords are grand, beautiful steep faces, craggy, rugged, stubbled with evergreens from timberline to the sea.

Yesterday, we spent some time at the Alaska Sea Life Center here in Seward, up close and personal with the puffins and sea lions in their habitat displays.  It's a nice nature center, with informative kiosks.   

The train ride yesterday morning was relaxing and pleasant. A woman sitting in the seat ahead of us was from California.  We stopped to ogle a glacier. Our car was quiet.  She said, "That looks just like frozen water." It was impossible not to hear her, sitting so nearby, and my head nearly exploded from holding in laughter.   Gail nudged me with a "be nice" jab of the elbow.  A moment passed, then her husband replied, "Ya think?" We were freed, all of us, to burst into hysterics.  

Tomorrow, we head for a short hike to Exit Glacier.  Then, it's back to Anchorage for the night, Seattle on Monday, Hilo Tuesday. 






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