Day 04 - 07/26 - Juneau

 I grew up in my early years in Juneau and have fond memories of it.  We arrived around 10am to a dry but a low clouds day.  Still, we decided to take the Mt. Roberts Raven tram which we had booked on the ship and spotted our first bald eagle perched high in a tree along the way.  As our cable car reached the platform we were totally engulfed in clouds with no visibility.


We walked around around the complex and noted that the raptor center was closed (permanently we later learned).  We enjoyed the Tlingit documentary movie in the theater before eating lunch in the cafe.  It was quite good and reasonably priced.


From time to time the clouds would break and we could see Douglas Island across the Gastineau Channel as well as our ship.  We descended on the Eagle tram and caught our shuttle bus out to Auke Bay where we went whale watching.  I booked us with the same company (www.Juneau whale watch.com) as we used last year except that this year we were on a nicer new and larger boat.  


Normally on whale watching trips one stops at the first sighting before moving on 20 minutes later to the next sighting.  This year was totally different.  We encountered a group of around 13 whales most of whom were bubble feeding.  This is a technique where the whales dive and then blow bubbles and then ascend in a circle with mouths open to scoop up the terrified fish.  It's a majestic and powerful sight that is not often seen. We saw at least a dozen of these feedings along with two complete breeches (it's where a multi-ton whale accelerates to the surface and comes completely out of the water before splashing back into the ocean).  It's also quite impressive.  This was the best whale watching we had ever seen.


Bubble feeding

Back at the ship we enjoyed dinner and the evening Cultural presentation program by a local Tlingit man.  Jakob's dad is a pilot and he flew in that evening and came down to the dock around the time we had to be back on board.  So, unfortunately, we missed seeing him. But he sent us a picture of the Noordam in the evening light as proof he tried to connect with us.


Tomorrow we are in Skagway and have a special excursion planned.  Stay tuned.


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