A veritable treasure trove of sites and wonders is exactly what I experienced in Red Bluff Bay on Baranoff Island. As I double-layered for a bushwhack hike into the Alaskan Rainforest, equipped with my fashionable rubber boots, and rainwear, we ventured out to the shore on a skiff that dropped us off at a salmon soaked shoreline. Un-cruise sailings offer different levels of activity each day such as less rigorous walks along the shores and the guided paths, but I opted for a more active adventure. There are no paths in a bushwhack, so you are stomping and climbing over bushes, branches, and other rocky terrains. Thinking of Wadsworth when he said, “Let nature be your teacher,” I was determined to not just watch my footing, but to soak up the sights and sounds all around me. The hike began with my first treat – a spotted deer with whom I’m pretty sure I startled equally as much when we came face to face with one other. We wandered into a field called a muskeg, which is a swamp that is water, vegetation, and moss. This particular one was a delight to the senses, with its full range of colors of oranges, red, greens and browns. It took some careful walking so as not to be knee-deep in the mush at times. The amazing flora and fauna displayed colors and organisms that you wouldn’t expect to see here; however we enjoyed beautiful colored flowers and toad mushrooms in various shapes and sizes. Frequently, we shared the feast of the bears and ate the blueberries from the bushes. We did not see a bear during this hike, but we were prepared, as our guide had her “bear spray” ready. Back on the ship later, I was reminded by a fellow passenger of the remnants of the hike still stuck in my hair (pieces of branches and leaves)!
After a lovely lunch of quinoa salad and hearty chili on board, I was ready for an afternoon adventure once we arrived at Halleck Harbor on Kuiu Island. The crew launched kayaks from their very cool and efficient floating dock system. We set out for a 3-hour kayak amidst the incredible forest, brilliant blue sky, and jutting rock and cave systems. Paddling along the shoreline, we viewed amazing sea life such as jellyfish and starfish, and maneuvered in and around little tiny islands that formed charming structures on the water, and then to our absolute delight, two sea lions appeared and began “showing off” for us. It was exhilarating to watch them; even if the one was a little closer to my kayak than I liked! Capping off this adventure was the call of the guide saying, “look whales!” With somewhat nervous anticipation we began paddling, keeping our eyes peeled for another chance to see this beautiful creature surface. He obliged, arching his magnificent body at least 3 more times, before we lost sighting. We all just stopped and simply breathed and smiled!
Each evening the bartender put out a nice non-alcoholic concoction, one being a rosemary, lime, and tea infused drink. I followed this up with dinner consisting of marinated red wine-soaked lamb chops with risotto. The pastry chef on board created wonderful delicacies for dessert each night, and this meal finished with a chocolate mousse with a mango drizzle.
One thought that kept coming to my mind on this trip, was the sensation of complete sensory delight. Of course, the grandeur of what is to be seen, the sounds of raw nature at its best, but also the smell of the most pristine outdoor world are incredible. As if to top off my remarkable day, there perched on a granite cliff, was a beautiful bald eagle.