In keeping with the alliteration, I’m adding whales to my 80 Waterfalls, Waves & Waffles focus.

I’m in Alaska, thanks to Harold’s amazing ideas and planning. On Thursday, a beautifully sunny day, we hopped into a small boat with four other people and our captain, Marissa, for a 1/2 day exploration of Resurrection Bay out of Seward, AK. We saw a couple otters, and then the radio let Marissa know that Orcas were spotted where the bay met the Gulf of Alaska. Off we went!

Those little boats can really move–just that alone and the majestic scenery of the fiord that is the Seward area was thrilling enough. But, then there were Orcas. We didn’t get photos because we were focusing on enjoying the moment and didn’t want to miss a thing.

And then, the call to the Humpbacks. Jetted once again to the “nautical miles” location and saw some tails. Just as our time was running out, we heard Marissa yell out, “watch the birds”! Just as the birds gathered, whale heads emerged from the waters all at once. That was an OMG moment. We got to see the cooperative feeding of Humpbacks where numerous whales emerge from the water all at once. What a thrill! It’s known as bubble-net feeding, but Captain Marissa was careful to note that they don’t always use the bubbles, so she called it cooperative feeding since we didn’t know for sure. In any case, this is what it looks like.

It took an hour or so to get back to our starting point–along the way we saw bald eagles, puffins, common murres, gulls, terns, glaciers (of course), etc etc.

And then Friday, a cloudy, moist day, I took off my shoes, did a water blessing and waded into the glacial silty waters of Emerald Pool fed by the Explorer Glacier. In Quechua, rivers from a glacier are known as Riti Mayu, snow rivers.

There was a woman from Tennessee who waded into the waters right when we got there. Her friends were all exclaiming about how crazy she was! That was my inspiration to wade in once they left. I did mention to them that I saw a sign in a Whittier coffee place that would fit her…I’m pretty sure I was a mermaid in a previous life. They laughed and agreed that was her!

A Bald Eagle right above us, same place.

I don’t know what my count is, perhaps some day I’ll figure it out–I have nine years left for the goal, God willing! Maybe it doesn’t matter. What I do know is that because of this challenge I have had two waffle cones, which were my first in this lifetime. I’ve always thought they were frivolous, extra cost and all, but now I realize they are pretty good. LOL!! If you haven’t had one, I recommend. Carpe Diem! Seize the waffle!