alaska: day three

On Saturday, we took an absolutely beautiful drive down to Seward for a wildlife tour of Resurrection Bay. It was a very grey and about 45 degrees... and unfortunately, it was the ONLY rainy day while I was in Alaska. This is the day that I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that my cold was making me feel absolultely miserable... but the views were awsome. Even on a rainy grey day...
.
.

We saw porpoises, orcas, otters, eagles, puffins, sea lions... and many very agile mountain goats. The photo below is of a very treacherous cliffside with a lone sure-footed mountain goat.

. .
I met a wonderful lady on the tour named Gretchen. She moved up to Alaska from the Lower 48 when she retired, and has taken on a 'second career' with the Audubon Society. Gretchen was great fun, knew birds like nobody's business, and actually reminded me a lot of my Auntie Nadine.

. .

There were lots of view like this...

. .

and like this...

.
.

Note the similar theme in the backdrop below...

.

.
And for those less sea-faring...marina, sweet marina...

.