Sleeping Whales Wake Up and Go Wild!

 

  Fortune favors the bold…the early bird gets the worm…

   Here at Uncruise it should read, ‘never let a little rain hold you back.’

        It was a beautiful drizzly grey afternoon as we pulled into Steamboat Harbor in Southeast Alaska. We had just seen dozens of humpback whales out the window during lunch. The conditions in the bay were perfect for open paddle, but with whales just outside the bay and within striking distance of a skiff, I also offered up an impromptu skiff tour for the guests. 

    Folks looked outside as the rain drops gathered on the railings of the Quests. They peered around inside at the beautiful lounge, bartender mixing drinks, and the library upstairs looking particular cozy for curling up and reading a book. I got the skiff ready and waited for the incoming guests to gather up… and waited… and waited… 

    One brave guests showed up. And it would go down as one of the greatest decisions of Linda’s trip. So the two of us headed out on a private skiff tour for one. We cruised up Cleveland Passage checking the shoreline for bears and other furry creatures to no avail. We finally turned around to head back out to where we saw the whales earlier. We came across two humpbacks at the surface, floating and resting like a couple of logs. I shut off the engine and noiselessly drifted by them, listening to them breath from time to time. 

    Just as we started up the engine to leave we heard a huge explosion from behind us. The two whales had woken up in spectacular fashion. A huge breach. And another. We jetting back over and hovered about a hundred yards out. The two whales turned out to be a mom and calf who continued to breach, chin slap, and pec slap for about twenty minutes! After nine seasons with UnCruise it was one of my most special whale encounters ever. And Linda had it all to herself.

 

    One bold decision to go. Bragging rights for a lifetime.

    This is UnCruise in Alaska.