Inside Passage Pt2

 We saw Humpback Whales every day of the cruise, but this day was extraordinary owing to the number of pods and unusual feeding behavior.

With just a cell phone it was pretty hard to get good photos but....

Nice pair of flukes

Humpbacks Bubble Net Feeding. Incredible to see several whales breaking the surface, mouths agape.

Later that day we sailed up Neka Bay, then boarded the Zodiacs for a trip up the lower stretch of the Neka River. Sighted a Brown Bear and early King Salmon.

Next stop was the Inian Islands. Here we neared the open ocean with more wind and swells.

Calming at sunset!

Glacier Bay day! Mountains, glaciers, fjords.

We were lucky to witness two large calvings here at the mouth of the Margarie Glacier

The peak back right is Mt Fairweather 15,325'. Ironically this range/peak is known for consistently poor weather, but we lucked out enjoying an ideal day.

Glacier sculpted granite

Zoomed in lower left. Mountain Goat!

The second to last night on the ship.

Orcas! Without a good zoom lens it was hard to get good shots. We were blessed to see babies frolicking, adults mating, and plenty of breaching.

 All good things come to an end and unfortunately for me this trip came to a crashing end, as I contracted COVID. Symptoms showed up the last day of the cruise and next day I was pretty sick.

It's been three weeks out and I still suffer from chest and head congestion, but those symptoms are still slowly diminishing.

Inside Passage pt1

 Yeah! Something completely different. I joined my sister for a National Geographic/Lindblad Cruise of the Inside Passage.

 We started in Juneau. Nice town wedged between steep mountains and the sea front.

Large cruise ships!

We arrived a day early, so we took the opportunity to ride the tram up from town to hike beautiful ridges.

Terrific flowers.

Clouds parted just enough for some nice views.

The next morning found us cruising up the Endicott Arm towards the Dawes Glacier

Hopped in the Zodiacs to get a close (but not too close!) view of the glacier calving. Saw two good sized ones and a few smaller ones. Sounded like thunder!

Intrigued by the vegetation pattern here. Hard to capture but really cool.

Next morning we sailed to Petersburg

Seal jumps in as we arrive.

Petersburg is a thriving fishing town. Season was just ramping up.

Went hiking near Petersburg. An insect eater!

Back on board. More amazing sea & mountain scenery.

Pulled into Security Bay for beachcombing and kayaking.

 

 

 

Hamilton Ghost Town

For me ski season has been over a while now. I thought I would rally for at least another outing or two, but once I started riding in earnest I found it hard to motivate. The riding is just so good out here!

 I've gotten some nice rides in, but nothing I considered worth blogging about - until now. I rode up to the Hamilton Ghost Town in the White Pine Range and it was incredible.

Parked near Illipah Reservoir off Highway 50 and headed up. The road steps up in short steepish sections to a pass at the north end of the Mokemoke subrange.

Once over the pass, the road then takes a long pleasant traverse towards Hamilton. Took a break at this lush spring with views over to Pogonip Ridge.

After an hour or so of pleasant riding I arrived at the first of many widely scattered ruins.

 On my way back I visited the cemetery. This set of tombstones was particularly gut wrenching.Three boys, possibly brothers, rest here. William died in 1890, just over a month old. Kenneth 1892 at the age of about a year and a half. Charles 1894, just 19 days. Tragic.

 Many of the gravesites were fenced in. These two were beautifully ornate.

The long traverse, then the swooping descent back to the truck ended the ride.

 Amazing country. Fascinating ghost town. Pleasant riding. Good weather too. Couldn't ask for more!