Last week Bill and I joined six strangers and the crew of the Northern Song for a week-long cruise of the Frederick Sound and its environs in Southeast Alaska. We left from Petersburg, a bustling small town that looks like something out of Northern Exposure minus the Main Street moose. I had high expectations for the trip and they were exceeded on the first day.
Dennis and Toni Rogers own and operate the Northern Song; we heard about them because some of their cruises are sponsored by photography groups. The idea of being on a small ship rather than a giant ocean liner was a big draw. What I hadn’t imagined was how stunning Alaska is, how terrific Captain Dennis and his wonderful, knowledgeable crew is and how delicious Chef Therese’s food would be. After a week of deprivation at home, I still have two more pounds (out of five gained) to shed. The other guests were all good people: interesting and interested. We traveled well together and made what I hope are lasting friendships. It was also wonderful to be out of cell and internet access for a week. Here are some photos from our journey.
After a lot of barking and belching, he finally managed to clamber onto the other side of the platform but, as you can see, he was a little too chubby to rest comfortably.
This whale breached surprisingly close to our boat. It was like watching an apartment building rise from the depths.
Have a good week!
