Yesterday in Juneau, we embarked on National Geographic Venture, all abuzz in anticipation of our weeklong exploration of Southeast Alaska. There was general agreement that our prospects for adventure were far more promising than for the thousands of other visitors clambering aboard the mega cruise ships at the docks surrounding us. Indeed, after sailing overnight to Holkham Bay, early in the morning we crossed over the shallow bar, in reality an end moraine deposited by the glaciers that formed the fjord of Tracy Arm. We felt privileged to glide into the wilderness. As we sailed up bay, there were stray icebergs and bergy bits carried by the current in the opposite direction, hints of the glacier up ahead. A mama black bear and her two cubs were investigating the intertidal area, and we paused to watch from a safe distance, hushed so as not to disturb their activities, before moving farther up bay.
7/23/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Petersburg
This morning National Geographic Quest arrived at the small fishing town and bustling harbor of Petersburg. Petersburg is among the top 20 fishing ports in the United States and walking and biking around the community we could appreciate the charm of the amazing homes along the waterfront. After breakfast we divided into our different groups based on our activities and explored the town by bicycle, walking to a muskeg bog, climbing Petersburg Mountain, or enjoying cultural tours with some of the locals as guides. Every activity was fun and educational. It felt like we were the only tourists in town, and we really got a sense for small town Alaska. After lunch the rain set in and some of us decided to relax on board while others put on rain gear and enjoyed a Zodiac tour around the harbor, walks, or a bike ride around town. Returning to the ship, we had an incredible presentation by a local resident about Tlingit culture before our recap and amazing Dungeness crab dinner that followed. It was another great day in Southeast Alaska.