Nothing beats waking up in Southeast Alaska; a place where, before you even open your eyes, you hear the lapping of the tides and the high chittering of eagles overhead. Nothing, except perhaps, waking up in Meyers Chuck. Mother Goose awoke in Meyers Chuck to eagles overhead, a gentle rising tide and Cassy, the postmaster and master baker, with a basket of freshly baked sticky buns! Absolutely divine!

After a breakfast that couldn’t be beat Mother Goose got off the dock and under way for Berg Bay. Along the way, the fleet cruised in close to Easter Island to observe an active sea lion rookery. Sea lions mate in the summer months with older, larger males establishing a selected mating territory that includes a dozen or more reproductive females. Males then defend that mating territory from other males, through displays and brief bouts of fighting. Considering male sea lions can weigh up to 1,500 lbs these displays are rather impressive to watch- and smell.

That afternoon Mother Goose rafted up in Berg Bay. With three stern ties and three anchors, the six-boat raft looked cozy and secure. Feeling adventurous John, Janet, Dan and Debra from Grand Adventure and Al from Patos went ashore to explore the tidewater marsh resplendent with blooming common paintbrush and bunchberry.  Along the boardwalk our crew found some bear scat, probably two weeks old, and some dug up skunk cabbage- evidence of brown bear activity! On their return from exploring on shore, Grand Adventure and Patos pulled their crab pots and found – five keepers! Their crew cleaned and cooked the crab in time for dinner. Deception had the good fortune of having dinner guest of our own. Ken and Virginia from Eldean and Bill and Barb from Discovery joined Deceptions crew for a lovely conversation over a chicken dinner. Thank you Eldean and Discovery for your fabulous company!