Day 32 - Elfin Cove

Arch Rock in front of Elfin Cove

"On the Edge" with the glaciers

Dave and Penny and the dogs being taunted by the sea lions

Sunset in Elfin Cove

Hows this for a boat name?

Tufted Puffins

A full breaching humpback

"Ladner Lass with a stunning Glacial background

Marko's first halibut

A raft of Sea Lions

A beautiful cruise up Lithianski Channel to Cross Sound brings us back out to the open ocean before turning right and back into protected waters. We stop to fish and the others head into Elfin Cove. I have been on Puffin Alert since Sitka and it was my lucky day as Mike and I spot about 8 of them swimming beside the boat as we head in to tie up. They are a strange looking bird with their mane of platinum hair and bright orange oversized beaks and red rimmed eyes! I was lucky to get some good shots of them before they dive and make a swift getaway.
This is one of our more memorable stops. Elfin Cove is a mish mash of board walks with a small store, fishing lodges, a Laundromat and the stopping place for the fish boats to fuel up and ice up. There are a plethora of whales, dolphins, sealions, sea otters and birds in the area. When we went gunkholing, we stumbled into the rip tide where about 30 curious sea lions follow us around. They are an intimidating sea creature with their immense size and rows of sharp teeth. Curious sea lions have been know to board boats if there is something they want. They are entertaining us with full back flips and jumps out of the water and they spy hop three quarters of the way out of the water to have a good look at the dogs. The dogs are both on Dave’s tender and Penny has to restrain our dog with a rope as he is liable to fall over in his excitement in seeing all these Sea Lions. What a fun display! Meanwhile over on the boys boats, Marko has caught his first halibut, a nice 65-70 lb halibut for good eating and freezing! Lots of fish are being caught and my little sealing machine is working hard!
The next day is dreary and raining, but we decide to go out whale watching anyways. Soaked to the skin and cold, but it was worth it getting to see these mammoth whales jumping out of the water. Some more awesome photographs!
While at the dock, we befriend some young folks that are preparing to go out for the opening of salmon fishing (trolling) on midnight of June 30th. They teach the boys how to tie up herring hook ups and clean our halibut in less than 5 minutes! We wish them luck in their new venture of owning fishing boats and selling their salmon in Texas! People are constantly coming and going in this little area as they are close to the outside for fishing. We ar forewarned that the fishing fleet is enroute and we will be inundated with small trolling fish boats. The third night and last night in Elfin proved their predictions to be correct. Both On the Edge and ourselves had 4-5 fishboats tied to us and it was a rowdy night! There are celebrations by the fisherman on the eve of their salmon opening like a bachelor party gone awry! Lots of loud music and partying by the young folks. Bob spent the night awake to make sure none of the fellows crossing his boat fall into the water, not to mention the rowdiness on their bow as they are crossing to get to their boats. Oh to be young again!