We Managed To Not Barf

Alternative Titles:

• Four For Four on Gloomy Fjords
• Ze Wristbands, Zey Do Nothing!
• We Managed Not to Barf
• 10 Foot Swells Make Me Sick
• Glaciers are Cold
• Whales Are Big and Neat
• No New Mosquito Bites

After staying in Seward last night, we took a cruise to see glaciers off the southeast point of the Kenai Peninsula today. As with the three other fjord cruises we've taken over the years, the day was gray and rainy. We were still able to see all the glaciers, though.

The first hour was packed with amazing wildlife sightings. A sea otter floating on its back, rolling around in the water and eating. He stayed there a long time, so we got a great look at him. We caught a glimpse of a humpback whale then were visited by black and white porpoises. They are attracted to the sound of the boat and soared out of the water right under the bow. Not long after, a humpback whale and her baby appeared about 150 feet from the boat. They swam around visible for a few minutes, then dove down with the mother flipping her fluke high in the air.

The glaciers were pretty, though not as spectacular as the one at Glacier Bay National Park. Earlier on the trip, someone told us the main glacier on this trip was calving non-stop. It had stopped before we arrived, but the water was thick with ice.

The trip back to shore was low in wildlife and high in waves -- we were on 7-10 foot swells for a couple hours. We did OK watching the horizon from the bow, but the waves were so big the captain called everyone inside. I'm shocked neither of us threw up, especially because acupressure wristbands were our only defense. I'm pretty sure all they did was bruise the inside of our wrists.

Now we're making dinner out of various snacks and hoping to catch The Simpsons on TV. It isn't the healthiest or most adventurous option, but it's all we're up for. Perhaps tonight we'll finally catch up on our sleep.