Fun in the Sun! After the long run up to the Columbia Glacier yesterday, we took our ease at anchor this morning. Warm coffee, warm sunshine, and warm companionship got the day off to a great start. We were underway at a luxurious 10 AM headed to Growler Bay.

Despite the brevity of our cruise today, we spotted some Dall’s porpoises in the calm waters. There were, of course, growlers (floating blocks of ice) off the mouth of Growler Bay, but after yesterday’s icecapades they posed no difficulty. Our crews were old hands at ice now. Spring tides brought us a -1 low today, just right for tide-pooling. 

After anchoring, three dinghies set off back up Growler Bay to its rocky opening. In between the cobbles we found the tiny world of mussels, limpets, chitons, and hermit crabs. A helmet crab scuttled through the eel grass, and Teddy found a sea star under rock. Four black oystercatchers shrieked their hysterical calls, while a dozen molting harlequin ducks did their best to quietly blend in to the rocks. It was a lovely spot to spend an hour in the sun.

Tonight’s entertainment was an open house pot-luck. All five yachts were rafted together, so everyone could visit each other’s boats. We are all boat people and this gave us a chance to check out other electronics, engine rooms, and accommodations. And we got dinner, too!