Mom's Visit

This weekend my Mom flew up for a visit from Boulder, CO. She endeavored to experience Crab Fest and anything else we could cram into the four day weekend. After a long flight on Thursday, we took her for a short evening hike at Fort Abercrombie State Park. On Friday we experienced Crab Fest and dined on a plate of crab legs and the famous bruin burger during the last dry weather of the festival - as we learned from everyone in town, "it always rains on Crab Fest."

Mom and me enjoying fresh crab

After eating crab Mom and I took a tour of the NOAA research vessel Oscar Dyson. While the instruments and scientific studies discussed on the Dyson tour were interesting, Mom really enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of another vessel a local fishing vessel by our friend Dirk. With more than two decades of fishing experience, Dirk had lots to share including harrowing stories of sea lion encounters and the icy Bering Sea - Mom loved it.

Mom and Dirk aboard the Ocean Hope 3

Perhaps the most exciting activity of the weekend was a full-day kayak adventure provided by Orcas Unlimited, an excellent local guiding company. During the paddle we were "stalked" by two curious harbor seals swimming close enough to hear their breaths, while shy sea otters kept their distance in the open water. Our guide Casey shared her wealth of knowledge about the bird life during the trip - Mom's favorite. In addition to the occasional arctic tern, we floated past islands full of kittiwakes, parakeet auklets, and puffins. By the end of the paddle rain had soaked us throughout - we were wet, Kodiak wet.

Ready to paddle before the rain

On Memorial Day Mom and I took a drive out to Pasagshak to watch whales and a nesting pair of bald eagles. The weekend sped by and before we knew it Tuesday, and the sun, arrived. A zoology major in college, the wildlife that Mom saw was definitely worth the trip. Hopefully, she will return soon.