Valdez... Part Two

We board the Lu-Lu Bell

We were surprised when grey skies met us the following morning… particularly after the Fourth’s glorious weather.  We had already planned to do laundry and re-provision, so the heavy clouds didn’t interfere.  We were also anxious to visit our favorite bear-viewing site so that Morgan could see the sows fishing with their cubs.  We were terribly disappointed to find that the salmon had just begun running.  There were none in the creek at all… and, consequently, no bears.  Heavy sigh.  At least we did find a few eagles fishing Prince Williams Bay.

An eagle feasts among the gulls in Prince William Sound

The next morning, we awoke to more gray skies and a definite chill in the air.  Temperatures had dipped into the low 40s.  We had a very special day planned for the three of us, so we bundled up and headed out.  We had reservations on the Lu-Lu Belle, a boat that would take us to the Columbia glacier. 

Chilly sailing on the Lu-Lu Belle

We had been on the other Valdez tour boat in 2010, but had heard that Captain Fred and the Lu-Lu Belle crew would be a much different experience.  It was true.  Captain Fred could maneuver his boat into places the other tour boat would never have considered.  When he found a boat fishing for salmon, he pulled up along side of them, allowing us to watch them haul in their catch.  Afterwards, his crew sent freshly baked blueberry muffins over to the sailors.

Salmon fishing on Prince William Sound

He put the nose of the boat into caves so that we could see puffins.

Puffin in a cave along Prince William Sound

Then Captain Fred saddled up next to a raucous sea lion colony.  The curious creatures would swim and dive so close to the boat that we could almost touch them. 

Sea lion colony on Prince William Sound

 When his crew spotted a whale spouting, Captain Fred followed him until the whale briefly breached in front of us.  Can you believe it… I missed the photo!

Then Captain Fred trolled through a mass of icebergs until we were no less than 150 yards from the blue-ice face of the Columbia glacier.  It was amazing… and, oh my gosh, that wind blowing off the glacier was bone chilling cold!

Columbia Glacier

Columbia Glacier calving

David in front of the Columbia Glacier

Captain Fred was a talker… what a hoot.  He gave a lot of information… most of it was interesting.  It was a very long day.  We left at 10:30 in the morning and didn’t arrive back to the dock until nearly eight that evening.  But what a wonderful day it was!

Captain Fred on the Lu-Lu Belle

We fell into bed that night, exhausted from the day and the constant chill.  Tomorrow we break camp and head to our final major destination with Morgan… McCarthy and the Kennicott mine.

Us in front of the Columbia Glacier