Our most recent trip to Whittier found cool, cloudy skies and perfect glass-like waters. Let's go kayaking! Ben and Rhonda were along to be our guides. They provided great kayak instruction and Rhonda was our group photographer (that means you'll see much more of me in these pics!). We put on our kayak "skirts", PFD's (personal flotation devices - "life jackets" for us oldtimers), got some quick instruction, and headed out.
Carrying them down to the water is the first step (and probably the hardest next to carrying them back up!).
"We're ready now how do we get in?"
Very carefully! That's 45 degree water so tipping is not an option. We scooted into the kayaks crabstyle using a paddle to steady the boat, got safely skirted in and off we went (much easier than it sounds or looks, really!).
Wow! this is beautiful.
And fun!
Something everyone likes!
We paddled across the bay to see this rushing waterfall. The water in the bay is gray, blue and murky because it is fed by streams of glacial runoff carrying the silt created by the ice grinding the rocks.
And there are glaciers all around this bay including the one you see to the right over the town of Whittier. The area to the left of the high rise is a bowl where glaciers form.
Next we followed the shoreline to a point where there are millions of birds. We don't know the name of this bird, but it is some kind of an arctic gull. Fortunately, they ignored us!
"Let's race to lunch" - let me translate that for you: "the girls are really slow can we go on???"
This is the spot. Out of the kayaks, and onto the beach to build a fire. (beaches here have rocks and algae not sand).
Time for a family pic while the coals get hot.
Never ones to miss an opportunity to use a pocket knife cutting sticks and making them sharp for skewers, Tucker and Ben got right to work.
Yummmm! Nothing beats a hot dog roasted over coals and finished off with smores on a chilly afternoon.
A view of us with the campfire on the beach surrounded by the glaciers. Wow this place is huge.
And back on the water headed for Whittier, we look behind us, looming over where we had lunch, to see the bluest glacier yet.
And if Whittier isn't already the strangest little town you've ever seen, here Rhonda is with someone's pet reindeer. We saw the owner out walking the reindeer on a leash later in the afternoon - no kidding!
We especially want to thank Epic Charters for great kayak rentals, instruction and the friendliest service in Alaska - you guys were great!
Also, thanks to Rhonda and Ben for taking us where we would not have gone by ourselves. Spending time with you guys has been an unexpected treat. Not to mention the tour guide and photography services which are unmatched!
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