Monday 7 September 2015

Whittier to the Fish Farm at Lake Bay

29/6
Steve and i go up to the Post Office and send my 2 postcards to Gemma & Bryn. The Post Mistress, Suzanne, was very interested in our trip, especially when i told her we had sailed over from Maine, through the Arctic Sea. She actually closed the post office for 20 minutes so she could drive down to the harbour to look at the boat.............:-)
We did some more emailing etc at the Anchor Inn and then back to the boat. We set off about 11:30 for Pigot Bay.
No wind (again), but still plenty of rain.
We anchored in Pigot Bay around 13:30.
Down with the dingy, we go for a stroll on shore.
The "Ghost forest" is next to where we land. These trees were once above water level, then in 1964, during the earthquake this area dropped 6 feet.............the salt water around their roots killed them off.................so here they stand.
It pours with rain all night.

30/6
Pouring with rain again this morning. No rush, so we all grab a shower during the grim weather.
About 11:00 we set off for Lake Bay on Esther Island, arriving about 12:00.
In the bay we know there is a fish hatchery that does guided tours of the plant.........free too............win win.
The manager takes us arund at 14:30, all very interesting they collect the eggs to the number of 1.65million Chum Salmon and about 1.3 million Red Salmom............they ferilize them, then store them in massive trays in the dark, to stop them fertilizing too quickly. They are released next spring.....clever because in 4 to 8 years theynow they will return.........brilliant.
The manager tells us about a walk to the lake at the back of the plant, so off we go.
There is is a board walk through the boggy ground, so easy to negotiate.
We see a black bear, feeding from the big fish ponds, the manager says we will be ok, just make a lot of noise, they are more frightened they we are.............wanna bet !!!
We have out bear spray and fog horns.
up to the lake.....lovely......bald eagles everywhere.
We carry on and the tarck drops back to the shore nearer the mouth of the bay..........we see another black bear feeding.
We get back to the dingy and the fish jumping around the boat is staggering.
We move down the bay in the dingy........nice and slow............i nearly catch a salmon by the tail.
Another black bear is feeding just on shore, we slowly edge nearer.....50m.......40m....30m........20m.......Terje gets these amazing shots.....in the same spot a bald eagle is also feeding.............now we are 10m away from him..........just fantastic..............
I fillet the salmon we cought in a net and have it for supper, lovely jubbly.


Por old Seagull, he just did'nt know which Salmon to go for first !!!




Salmon jumping in the bay


Black bear feeding on.............................yes, you guessed it.....Salmon.


Bald eagle feeding on............................. surprise, surprise........Salmon




Mr. Bear has had enough and off he goes


Fish in a trap before going into the fish farm


One of the fish spawning pools

The fish nets


Steve up at the Lake behind Lake Bay, this provides the fresh water for the fish farm

View across the island, showing the wooden walkway to the beach.


A pond on the way to the beach


Bald eagles everywhere................


The walkway strats to drop down to the beach.


The beach hut


Art farty..........

Video that might or might not work !!!!!!!!!










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