By 8:00 a.m. We are tied to the dock in Homer. Watching the procedure this morning we note that here in Homer, only two men meet the ship...and they get her snugly tied in the berth within 20 minutes.
No fork lift tractor, no extra hands.
We opt for a kayak trip at this port because my mind latched onto the phrase: "Paddle with the otters...." in the shore excursion brochure.
First a water taxi across the broad channel into Otter Cove. We stop to watch two humpback whales feeding. Good start.
Out of the 10 folks in our group it appeared 8 were pretty much new to kayaking. This was a hurry up and wait experience. The scenery was amazing, the water fairly "flat" and the guides very friendly and professional. We paddled about an hour and 15 minutes down an inlet and into Sadie Cove. Upon launch our guide, Tyler, told us to stay together, and please no "run always." This was the most difficult instruction to follow as for us that meant not paddling a lot of the time. As soon as we did paddle, we were ahead of the rest. The scene is dramatic with the steep rising mountains surrounding the flat water, but it is definitely missing one thing I came to see....sorta close up, like face to face....sea otters.
Steve is all geared up and ready to go...Tyler is in full kayak instruction mode!
We stop for lunch on an expansive beach and enjoy the sandwiches along with hot cocoa made by Tyler.
Guess this is what the Back Roads Bicycle trip experience is like? Odd to have someone do this FOR you! But then life can be about new experiences!
Time to head back as the wind has picked up. Tyler stresses heading you boat into the wind and do not stop paddling or you will go backward. Apparently most of the pack takes this to heart as now we have three boats up with us, and the guides in the back?
Our guide grabs some wildlife to share. Steve winds up with it. Sea star anyone?
Definitely not an otter. I am tempted to ask, "So when do we float among the rafts of otters?" But, I am reminded of all the passengers I have taken on "Wildlife and Whale Watch" trips....and the classic question..."So, when do we get to the whales?" (And see them breaching and spy hopping and all that great stuff??). WILD....life...is the key phrase. You can't schedule it, it's not a preformance or a show. So, I laugh at myself!
But wait!!! There in the distance is a black head bobbing in the middle of the channel. Could it be?
Yep, here's some blurry proof....we sight a sea otter chilling on it's back munching away on something. Not exactly a raft of otters...and certainly not face to fur...but it's a sea otter in the wild!
When we climb aboard the water taxi the driver introduces himself and his dog (big black lab named Coal). I ask him, "So, do you brake for whales?" He smiles broadly and says "Sure do!" Motoring out of Otter Cove someone points ahead and shouts, "Whale!" We pull into the area to watch a humpback and wait for the tail fluke, which is lovely...and then...suddenly....
Ohh my! And this particular whale is having a whale of a time as it continues in a pattern of four breaths, tail fluke up, dive and then 50 feet and ____tons of whale, explode out of the sea and comes down with a mega splash!!! We are treated to this sight five times....pictures snapping (including the taxi captain)! Finally base operations calls and says "Where are you???" Time to go!
It's been a lovely day...once again proving that with wildlife especially, you never know what you're going to experience....and that the only thing you know for sure is: if you don't go, you won't see it....whatever "it" turns out to be.
And now....back to the ship....next stop Kodiak!
Fun to catch up with your trip, sitting here in Juneau :) Still think you need to come on up here in your boat!!
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