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Published: July 14th 2012
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Glacier Bay
BJ at Laumplagh Glacier. Sunday July 9th 2012 Reid Harbor to Fingers Bay
BJ and I took off early to see Reid and Laumplagh Glaciers in a high state of organization. We found a place to land on a falling tide and took a walk across the rocky shore to the face of the glacier. In a few minutes we realized the tide was falling rapidly and hurried back to the tender to find it beached. Picture a mature, overdressed couple frantically trying to push, pull, and rock a 900 lb boat over rocks and mud back into the safety of the chuck watching the water recede faster than they could slide the boat. We grunted and panted and by sheer desire and by filling our boots with very cold water floated it. When we climbed aboard it was no longer floating so we used our collapsible plastic paddles to grind along the rocks (like the glacier) into deeper water. I was so thankful for our tough little Bullfrog with its aluminum bottom and glad too when our collective heart rates returned to normal. We returned to “base camp” changed clothes this time remembering a pole and a VHF
Glacier Bay
Laumplagh Glacier radio and took off again up Johns Hopkins Inlet. The path was clearer until we reached close to Laumplagh Glacier and then we had to push our way through the small ice paddies. The sun is shining in increasing intervals and in my euphoria I snapped another digital roll of pictures.
What can I say? It is grandeur without end. Laumplagh Glacier is not a tide water glacier anymore as can be seen at low tide so we landed in front of the ice cave and I went as close as I could without getting wet under its dripping ceiling. BJ stayed a little offshore this time. I took a few more snaps and we worked our way back through the bergs which were moving with the tide and had closed off our path of entry so we again pushed and often let the bergs push us through. The cruise ship Volendam was on its way in and seemed not to care how big and iceberg was in its way and it stopped in front of Laumplagh Glacier (for lunch, I suppose.)
After our lunch the family Veselka loaded into the Bullfrog and as
Veselkas in Reid Hbr
The Veselka family off to explore cold new worlds. I write they are exploring new worlds of their own. This is the Northern extent of our Alaska trip and we must leave to meet some far off schedule. Also the weather is predicted to turn as low pressure replaces high pressure and heavy winds and seas may hold us in place for a day or two. So we maneuvered Little Liza back through the bergs and are peacefully anchored in the South Arm of North Finger Bay and still in Glacier Bay National Park but positioned to move across Icy Strait to Hoonah before weather happens. Fingers Bay is a very peaceful anchorage with high mountains in the distance, spruce forests and a narrow strip of meadow down to the shoreline, just right for bears. It smells wet and fragrant.
Monday July 10, 2012 Fingers Inlet to Neka Bay
We awoke to our familiar low clouds and rain in Fingers Inlet. We pulled in equally familiar empty crab pots, loaded the Bullfrog and tried fishing on a rocky hump in the main channel. Keith caught a nice pacific cod and I lost my gear in the depths. We motored out
Reid Glacier
Veselka exploring Reid Glacier. of Glacier Bay and spotted some whales in Icy Straits but they come up for air three quick times and with a wave of the tail dive deep and are gone. Opening the side curtains on the flybridge makes for a relatively dry viewing area. We fished some more rocky humps in Frederick Sound. Keith fished from the cockpit and I poked my pole out a side door in the pilothouse to stay out of the rain. Neka Bay again provided a lovely, solitary spot for anchorage.
Tonight after a pizza supper we sit and watch “Frozen Planet” and drink our root beer floats. Outside a steady downpour fogs the windows and encloses our cabin in cozy warmth. We await the wind that is expected in the Straits tonight.
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Sue & Ken
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Hey...
Hope to hear from you soon. Hope you got across in the still of the morn... hugs, Sue