The orcas were amazing from the boat, but there was so much more I saw. It started when we are pulling out of the harbor we are greeted by a bald eagle sitting on a sign (he was saying ENJOY). We passed by the aquarium, the waterfront campground, and the towns waterfall.

A bit of a back story to the campground, it’s combat camping at it’s finest. You camp òn the beach and it’s first come first serve it’s worth getting a spot. http://www.alaska.org/detail/seward-waterfront-park I had a whole differant perspective from the water it still looks like combat camping. We did stay here two years ago and were lucky to get near the water.

The waterfall is actually a flood prevention channel, because Seward would flood. They blasted the rock through a mountain and redirected the flow of water. It was a good thing because the amount of water and trees that came through in the last few days had the water brown. The Corp of Engineers have heavy equipment to dredge the bottom of the channel due to debris that come down. I have pictures.

Out on the open water we saw Steller Sea Lions and Seals, I had my bubble burst when I found out that Sea Lions are the performing Seals in the circus. I will leave you with that disappointment.

It was neat to be able to check this one off the bucket list, both photo and personal. We were on the boat ride out of Seward, Alaska on the Steller Explorer and had seen a few puffins, gulls, sea lions, and lunge feeding humpback whales. (I will cover the other sealife in another post).

Over the radio we hear that some orcas were sighted at no name rock, off we speed. I am sitting on the back of the boat enjoying the scenery and taking a few pictures. The boat slows down and I have camera in hand I see a fin then the top of the back of a good size orca, no pictures. My breath was taken away and happy tears welled up in my eyes. I have seen some breath taking sites, I also have seen them on TV, I wasn’t prepared for this. The cool thing is they were hunting and on a mission but stayed long enough for me to see and take pictures.

I think the mother was trying to teach the baby how to dive and hunt. I can see how the fin could be mistaken for a shark from a distance. I was able to stop crying and take some pictures of fins and the baby. Sitting on the bow of the boat the orcas were getting close, so close, Chris from our group was getting up to get his shorter lens when the baby broke water right next to the boat. He did not get the photo but the look on his face was PRICELESS.

The boat was bobbing up and down in some swells and I was taking pictures when all of a sudden my stomach started to do some bobbing of its own. I had such a concerned group of friends around me trying to push me to the rail so I could feel better. The truth is they were more concerned with protecting the cameras. I am sure there was concern for both.

The boat and the crew were very helpful and informative about the area history and showing us the local sea life. Well worth a trip on the water when in Seward Alaska. http://www.alaskasaltwaterlodge.com/boat_photos.htm the smaller boat means less struggle to see and better photo positions.

Having enjoyed this trìp and crossing the orcas off the bucket list boats and me are parting ways.

I am so glad I made the right choice with staying back yesterday, my fellow peeps were wet or I should say drenched. I am glad they were able to see a few bears even though it was wet.

Yesterday, did give me a chance to catch up on my blogs go through 800 pictures. I found a few amazing pictures of the mom bald eagle feeding her baby. Also in the treasure trove a few extreme cuteness alerts (otters with babys).

I started to feel better in the afternoon. Felt excellent after a meal of fresh caught salmon by Jan from our group, seafood charter, and a halibut casserole all AMAZING.

After dinner we went scouting for animals, we even found some. Side note, Lisa and Len have been amazed with how cooperative the animals have been. As a group we have gotten closer then most other years, also the abundance of them . Last night there was a cow moose and a calf that was maybe a week or two, did not get a picture of the calf did take numerous pictures of mom.

I am pushing my limits by not showing fear and safely getting out of the car to shoot. I think it’s easier in a group, you still have to be aware. The cow moose started to get irratated by the traffic on the dirt road so we took cue and backed up.

Caribou, one more cow and calf, plus a few birds finished the session out. Today was the boat ride still need to check pictures.

Amazing a bald eagle baby who might be a few days old. We were able to watch mommy bird beak feed. The little guy looked so amazing. The other amazing part was a quick twenty minute stop turned into a two hour lovefest of cuteness. People who know me know that the Bald Eagle is one of my favorites. I watch eagle cams at home and have seen eagles feeding their babies, but to see it and photograph it in real life this was the cherry on top of a beautiful day. (More on that later). Sunday’s animal sightings were more abundant.

I have already stretched my boundries, I have not been impressed with my ability in taking landscapes so I rarely use my wide angle lens. On the way home we stopped at the Russian Orthodox Church Ninilchik to practice some wide angle shots. This is one of the most photographed buildings on the Kenai. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Transfiguration_of_Our_Lord_Chapel

The day started with checking one of the photos from my bucket list. A cow moose with not one baby but two, I only saw this once and it was a quick flash then gone. Today was time to compose and settle in for some photos. Too bad I don’t have room in my carry-on.

Upon arrival at the dock we did not see the Time Bandit (boat from Deadliest Catch, a little bummed but the sights we saw made me forget about the Time Bandit.

Arriving at Gull Island we saw Sea Otters with a few babies, then more, and more, and still more. It was unbelievable Lisa, Len (our 2 guides), and Carl (our boat driver) had never seen so many cooperative otters. We stayed here for hours and I have a zillon pictures of furry cuteness, there was so much.

Sunday in Homer was finished off by treating the group to wine tasting at Bear Creek Winery in Homer. http://www.bearcreekwinery.com If you are ever in Homer check it out. I love embracing turning 50 all year.

Just to finish up those who know me know I have MS one thing I’ve learned traveling with Roy is management. I stayed back from the bear fly out to manage and recover from the awesome day yesterday was. I want to embrace the rest of the week and I am doing the bear extension.

Seagulls do not exist, I learned this twenty minutes into the trip. I should have googled this before I left. I also might have to write it five hundred times if I keep slipping, just kidding I hope. On the boat on Sunday I kept popping out with how many seagulls were on Gull island http://www.alaska.org/detail/gull-island . The funny thing was having a whole boat go a WHAT LOL. Our second stop of the day was Potter’s Marsh https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorage_Coastal_Wildlife_Refuge where I thought I saw a seagull actually I saw an Artic Tern, a bird who has the longest migration, boy I bet their wings are tired. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_tern We also encountered Glaucous-winged Gulls, Glaucous Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwake (if you listen to the call they say their name).

Also in the mix on Saturday were some Sandhill cranes we saw on our way back from the store. I have a few pictures but they are kinda grainy. Sandpipers or known as Lesser Yellowlegs. My favorite bird the Bald Eagle, Sunday we saw a baby bald eagle more on that later.

I do know this trip I will so alot of birds and I am keeping tabs on when I see them. I can say birds are wonderful and interesting knowing the names and backstories, but I might still call Gulls Seagulls.

I’m ok with not being the youngest this trip. We have Dee and Wendy both older and well travelled photographers from the east coast. Chris is the only guy other then our second guide, he is from New Brunswick Canada. Along with me he is the other nonbirder. We are all together in cabin three closet to the main house.

In cabin two there is Jan who is from Phoenix and seems to be pretty quiet. Sharing that cabin is Kelly who is the youngest by a few years. She was gifted this by her husband very sweet.

We then have Lisa who is such a bubbly genuine person and she enjoys sharing her passion for both photography and birds, she with the others will try and convert me. They started the first day when I saw the elusive SEAgull. You do know they don’t exist. More on that later. Len is Lisa’s second in command and helps us stretch the boundries also.

The cabins we are staying at are right on the Kenai river. Marlow’s on the River https://www.marlowsonthekenai.com The views are amazing and so are the owners if you want river front property this is the place. All in all I’m looking forward to an awesome trip.

Morning, I’m so excited to start off today we are jumping into pictures at our first stop. I am having some cell phone data issues so hopefully we don’t have to wait to get pictures and updates on this animal adventure.

Yesterday when I flew in it was rainy and cold today just cold. Lets hope yesterday was the worst of it. I am looking forward to seeing some bears and wanting to see an orca for the first time, other then tv.

I will post when I can onto the adventure.