I love the river, but my heart now belongs to the sea.

Twelve days was all it took. Paddling out from Haines in cresting waves in search of unfathomable adventures. Following the coastline south towards orcas, porpoises, sea lions and bears. Catching pink salmon for dinner with our bare hands and gorging ourselves on deliciously wild berries. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, thimbleberries, raspberries and salmon berries, all glistening under the hot summer sun! Each new day, each new spot, held something new for us to discover. Families of river otters played in the ocean, curious sea lions were intrigued by our presence, and seals popped up beside our boats as the long days coasted by. And when we eventually began the inevitable turn back north, back towards civilization, perhaps it was fitting that a humpback whale accompanied us on our final day and that the aurora borealis danced a farewell on our final night.

Over the past twelve days I’ve fallen head over heels for Southeast Alaska…and I hope the adventures are only beginning.

(click on the first photo to enter 'slideshow' mode)