I'm Back...

Sorry for the delay in the past few weeks. My internet was out for about 2 weeks and the summer is starting to get busier, with less time off (this is a good thing). Since it has been a while, I have so many new things to say and pictures to show.

The past few weeks have been filled with more new friends (the lumberjacks), bonfires, more amazing wildlife, skiff rides, and fresh seafood! The Lumberjack show is right next to where we work, so we would run into them everyday. A group of us started hanging out with them, which is a new adventure every night.

Last week a couple of my tours were canceled, so I got to hop on the big boats for some Misty Fjord tours as the back-up naturalist. The highlight that week was the main reason I came to Alaska, Orcas. We saw them on 2 different occasions that day. There were 2 separate family pods at first, and then later on in the day they came together as one large pod.

In the first meeting they swam around our boat on there backs, so you could see the white bellies! They were so cute. There were males, females, and babies. On the way back when we saw the larger pod, our captain slowed the boat down for one last look. That is when the babies started to breach (leap out of the water).

2 Breaching babies.

After both Orca sightings, there were tears in my eyes, I have been lucky to see so many different animals that I love in the wild, and get to be up close and personal. But nothing will ever compare to this moment of seeing the baby whales leap out of the water for pure joy! The naturalist on board (Colleen) came running up to me afterwards and gave me the biggest hug. And it was nice to know that there were people around me who understood what I was feeling. It was a magical moment that I will never forget.



My captain is house sitting for a family on the island across the narrows for the month, which means she gets to drive a skiff to work everyday. This also means we get to go on skiff joy rides when we want! So one day after work she took me on a tour of Ketchikan by water, the parts that we don't see on our tours. It was a beautiful day and the water was flat. It was just another reminder of why I love my life here in Alaska.  

One other part I love is that bonfires at lakes and beaches have become a normal in my life! Last week we had a cookout/bonfire at Ward Lake with the Lumberjacks. They brought some fresh Halibut that they had caught so we grilled it on sticks over the fire. And it was some of the best fish I have ever tasted! Kayla and I also saw the most adorable little Merganser duck family, with about 15 little ducklings!!

This week we had another bonfire with the lumberjacks at Refuge beach. It involved hammock time with my roomies, tidal pooling, a tire swing, rock skipping with Bryce, and one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen! Kayla had been fishing and crabbing earlier in the day and brought us home some Dungeness crab for dinner. So Alex (one of the lumberjacks) and Kayla got the crab legs ready and Bryce and I did the cooking. I can now say that I am an expert at cooking crab. We enjoyed a few before we left, then took the rest to enjoy around the bonfire.

The past few weeks we have really gotten into the swing of things. The tours have been great, and I've seen lots of humpbacks on my own tours along with lots of seals and eagles. Everyday I fall more and more in love with Alaska. I promise to not take 3 weeks to update the blog next time, as long as my Internet doesn't leave us again!

Sunset at Refuge Beach.