02 Sep 2018

St Lawrence and Penkingney Bays

We were entering into the last couple of days of this incredible voyage. Leaving Wrangel Island behind, we passed back through the Bering Strait and into the mouth of St Lawrence Bay. Early in the morning we were called up the bridge: a pod of orca surrounded the ship, giving amazing views as they watched us and we watched them!  We estimate there to have been around 7-8 individuals, in addition to Gray whales and a lone Minke who gave a good show with full-breaching and other antics.   This voyage has been so very blessed with plenty of whale sightings!  We spent the afternoon ashore in Unnamed Bay on a relaxed warm and sunny landing - spotting a good-sized brown bear on the riverbed, likely feasting on the ripe berries that cover the tundra this time of year.

Overnight we made our way to a special bay called Penkingney.  It was a perfect day with yet again more whales – this time Humpback whales - and watching from the zodiacs gave a great perspective.  Hearing and seeing them surface, blow and breach with tails and pectoral fins slapping the water was a lasting memory to take away. Our ship cruise during the afternoon blessed us with even more sightings of whales as we sailed through a narrow strait and out into the open ocean once again, bound for our final destination of Anadyr.