The day started gray as almost all days do in this humid climate with cool nights. But soon there was drastic improvement. The sun came out and yesterday’s wind was gone. As we paddled off it was one of those mornings with the sea like a mirror displaying the silvery trails of sea otters, sea lions and whales.

At least on our northeastern part of Glacier Bay. This is the part that gets the most sun. The west part that we paddled up was covered in low clouds/fog the whole day with occasional showers.
Quite a contrast. On “our” side we were basking in the sun and we each had about four dips into the water to keep cool over lunch.

It is not just today. We can see it on the vegetation. A lot of hemlock on the sunny side, almost none on the cloudy side, more flowers etc.
As we paddled off after lunch we lost count of how many whales were blowing all around us. Mostly humpbacks, but also one big dark one with a different tail design.
We slumbered off to the sounds of whales blowing and the occasional cannon like sound of a thirty ton humpback landing in water after a big jump.

We also hear their “singing”, some were clearly “get off my turf or else….” Type communication, others sounded like attempt at more harmonious messaging, albeit a bit guttural

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