Day 20/21 – Sandborn Canal to Tracy Arm – Dawes Glacier

Green Glacial water around our boats


Ladner Lass in the bergs


Oceanaire Peaking out of the Bergs


Playing in the Bergs


Berg in the shape of a bird?


A balancing Act


Orion Mini Cruise Ship - Next stop Japan


Abundant waterfalls in Fords Terror
This is one of our all time favorite stops. We anchor and stern tie in a small bay just off of the river that takes you into “Ford’s Terror” -- we share our day with a small charter boat and watch the ice bergs swirling around just outside of our bay. There is a big sandbar that prevents the larger bergs from entering our bay but some of the smaller pieces do make their way into the bay. In the morning we will take the dinghies and go into Dawes Glacier.
Dawes Glacier – Happy Birthday Gayle! Marko has the rack of lamb on the menu for your birthday dinner! A bright sunny day and off like a whirling dervish we go in our dinghies up to Dawes Glacier. The sun might be out, buts its very cold out. Note to self – wear gloves next time. While in the glacier, a small cruise ship “Orion II” enters and drops off quite a few tenders and passengers to go up to the front of the glacier. Again – compared to 2008, there is very little ice in the bay and very little calving going on. Its still a beautiful sight, but not nearly as exciting when there is no calving going on. The Orion makes it way into the bay and is in view of the glacier. There must be a 1000 seals in here with their pups. It’s a safe place to bear and raise their pups away from Sea lions and Orca. A few small bits of the glacier fall off but nothing of note. Back to the boats to watch the final Game of the Stanley Cup. The Orion II anchor in the outer bay of where we are and again they send their passengers in by tender to Fords Terror. Ford’s Terror is so named for a crewman of Captain Vancouver who stayed too long in the bay and due to the tidal bore action could not come out for 6 hours, Mr. Ford was truly terrified that he would not make it out to the main ship because they could not row against the tide and were stuck inside for a full tide swing!
What a disappointing end to a fine hockey season and 4 series of playoff games. Then to hear on the news that the riots etc. have broken out in Vancouver with looting, overturned cars etc. Its almost like seeing shots of Tripoli or the Gaza strip on the TV. I hope all the perpetrators get found and prosecuted!