Late morning, we arrived in Sitka, ready to spend the day exploring. Sitka is often called the birthplace of Alaska as we know it today. On October 18, 1867, the Alaska Purchase took place when the land was transferred from the Russian Empire to the United States for $7.2 million. The ceremony occurred in Sitka in front of the Governor’s House, where the Russian flag was lowered, and the American flag was raised.

Our first adventure was a wildlife tour, so we boarded a tender to the pier to catch a small boat.

We wound through several coves without spotting any wildlife, which seemed to worry our pilot. Determined to show us some marine life, he sped to a buoy known for its reliable sightings. Sure enough, we found sea lions lounging on the buoy—always a sure bet.

Several bald eagles circled overhead, and we came across a nest. Just as I was about to take a photo, the mother eagle performed a dramatic flight out of the nest.

Next, we searched for sea otters. We discovered a kelp bay and, as expected, there they were. Though hard to photograph due to their constant movement, you can see a head popping out of the water in the middle left of the picture.

As we meandered between small islands, we entered a cove and, “Bingo!”, a pod of gray whales appeared. It was the moment every tourist hopes for. Whales breached all around us. Each time I tried to point my camera at one, another would breach with a “whoosh” sound. I managed to capture this sequence using rapid burst. Our guide recognized this whale from previous sightings and named it “Patches” due to the white spot from detached barnacles.

The other feature of the day was winding through the Tongass National Forest, one of the largest contiguous temperate rainforests in the world.

Finally, a bald eagle perched long enough for a picture

Final tender back to the mother ship for the night. See you tomorrow.