Bartlett Cove to Berg Bay Glacier Bay National Park – June 6

This morning we waited for the flood tide to head north in Glacier Bay.  While we were waiting we went ashore and tried the Internet again.  I sent emails letting folks know we had arrived at Glacier and that we would be out of touch for several days.  We also filled up the water tanks. 

The tides here are very powerful and can swing as much as 25 feet.  The tidal swing results in significant currents that make timing our travel in a 7-knot boat quite important.  We turned into Berg Bay to look for otters .  We were very fortunate (and foolish) since we entered near low tide over a rocky reef.  For one brief moment we had just 4 feet of water under the keel.  We dropped our anchor and watched dozens of otters swimming nearby – many with baby otters in their paws.  Our plans are to depart the cove at 6 pm slack but the scenery is beautiful and we are content to stay here tonight. 

It rained most of the afternoon but by 5 pm the sky was clear and the wind had calmed.  I dropped my kayak in the water and went for a paddle around the bay and into the steam at the head of the bay.  Saw lots of otters, eagles, seals, dolphins and a whale at the far end of the cove.