ALASKA!

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.

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The seals in Petersburg Harbor provided hours of entertainment. The guy in the water wants a spot on the buoy; the others are having none of it.

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.

Gained a bit of weight over the winter.


We awoke one morning to this glacier. The ice is blue because it is very old. (Bill can give us the scientific explanation for why that is so.)



Despite the glacial ice, these sea lions appear quite comfortable, if a little disgruntled by the intruders. They have their babies on the ice floes and the eagles snatch up the placenta. Nothing goes to waste.




Whale breaching

This whale breached surprisingly close to our boat. It was like watching an apartment building rise from the depths.

I’d like to think that this was a farewell wave, but I know better.
Alaskan sunset.

Have a good week!

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About Alexis

Alexis Rankin Popik, author of Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate, is an award-winning short story writer whose work has appeared in The Berkshire Review and Potpourri Magazine. She has penned numerous articles about local history that have been published in Connecticut Explored and the University of Connecticut School of Law and The Hartford Seminary publications. A former union organizer, Popik traveled the country educating shipyard workers about health and safety and founded a labor-management health plan before turning to writing fiction full-time. She lives with her husband in New England.
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