Sawyer Glacier - the blue-tinged ice provides us with spectacular views of the two tidewater glaciers in their amazing fjord environment. We get back to Juneau at 5pm after a cruise of 140-miles during which we have seen much wildlife including pigeon guillemots, humpback whales, harbour seals, and mountain goats. In the evening, we dine at the hotel next to Grandma's where we enjoy some good and very filling food in the Black Angus restaurant

(5) Monday, July 31st: for the next two nights we stay at Glacier Bay Lodge before moving on to Skagway. The lodge is situated in Bartlett Cove, which we reach by firstly taking the ferry from Juneau's Auke Bay Ferry Terminal to Gustavus.

A member of staff at Grandma's drives us to the ferry terminal from where the Auk Nu departs at 11am. Although the early morning rain has stopped, the clouds are threateningly low and we only catch glimpses of the mountains surrounding our cruise route. But we do see some wildlife, including sea lions and a humpback whale.

We stay on board the Auk Nu when it reaches Gustavus and the boat then takes us on on a 3-hour cruise of Icy Strait. Heavy rain spoils views of the scenery but we do see more humpback whales and several sightings of sea otters. On our return to Gustavus, an old school bus transports us to our accommodation in the Glacier Bay National Park.

Bartlett Cove.

Our rooms in the lodge (above) are close to Bartlett Cove, which we explore as the weather improves considerably. After a pleasant and very filling meal in the lodge, we watch a slide show put on by a park ranger; subject: the purpose of the national parks.

 

 

Today's cruise is aboard the Spirit of Adventure which will take us on an 8-hour exploration of Glacier Bay. The ship's captain informs us that we will pass through the Beardsee Islands; go between the North and South Marble Islands; pass Tlingit Point to enter the West Arm of Glacier Bay; pass the entrance to Tidal Inlet; Queen Inlet, and Rendu Inlet; pass Russell Island to enter Tarr Inlet. Our route will include visits to the Grand Pacific, Margerie, and Lamplugh Glaciers. On the way back we will pass Drake Island and Willoughby Island.

Our cruise aboard the Spirit of Adventure will cover 139-miles of an area

that has the world's greatest concentration of tidewater glaciers.