Just Lion Around

And so we had passed the half way point of our cruise.  The glacier had unleased a bit of fury, and it was time to head for home.  I got to see Humpback Whales, flying Orca's, and a glacier, plus some puffins that were out of lens range.  As we started to motor away from the glacier, we even saw a mountain goat just hanging out by the glacier.

 

We passed a few more whales, who even took the time to wave goodbye.

We had a few hours to cruise to bet back to Seward. I sat on the upper deck, while most of the saner souls stayed inside where it was warmer, and looked back on my day, quite literally.



The closer we got to the mainland and Seward, the more green the little rocky outcrops got.  We finally got a hint of blue sky too.

The upper deck...a little chilly in this day so everyone was crammed inside.

I thought this rock was really neat, the stark white face of it with the bright green trees covering half of it, while leaving the other side barren.  Well, almost barren.

Closer observation that instead of a little copse of trees, there was a little copse of sea lions sunning themselves!

These are the first sea lions I have seen outside of an aquarium.  I was a little nervous because some of them looked a little, um, dead.  The captain said that they often fight, bloodying themselves, and I thought a few of them looked like fat little blood soaked murder victims.  But really, their thick fur takes on the darker color when wet...so some were just a little less sundried than the others.

Sea lions are actually a type of fur seal.  If left alone and not brought to an early demise by humans, orcas, bears, or boat propellers, they will live 20-30 years in the wild.  So this little group is enjoying just another start of summer in Alaska...except the baby...if you look closely you will see a little pup.

I suspect this is the mama...she was biggest and barking orders.

And in this shot the little baby lets out a little cry to let her know where he is hanging out...which is on top of another sea lion.

A bit further away, left alone, appeared yet another fat, possibly dead motionless sea lion, belly exposed to the sun.  I swear I saw it smile just a little as we went by, and vowed to spend at least part of my summer the same way...happily sun tanning and remaining intentionally oblivious to the chaos of the herd.  Smart little fella!