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Posts Tagged ‘nature’s sculptures’

USA: Alaska #7 LeConte Glacier Bay

Posted in Alaska, Cruise, For Armchair Travellers, Glaciers, Travel, USA, tagged "Sea Lion", Alaksa, harbour seals, icebergs, Inside Passage, LeConte Glacier, LeConte Glacier Bay, nature's sculptures on July 23, 2015|

Ice flows © DY of jtdytravels; P1100299

After lunch we dropped anchor at the mouth of LeConte Glacier Bay.

We seemed to be surrounded by slow moving chunks of ice.

LeConte Glacier Bay © Jt of jtdytravels; P1130615

The fiord leading up to the glacier was hidden from view; just around the corner.

It was a tantalising prospect!

Google Sattelite photo of Glacier Bay Alaska

Google Satellite photo of Glacier Bay Alaska

We, of course, would not see this satellite view but it helps to get an overview of the glacier and part of the Stikine Icefield from which it comes. This glacier is 34 km (21 ml) long and 1.6km (1 ml) wide and it’s the southern most tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. It was named in 1887 in honour of one of John Muir’s friends, California geologist Joseph LeConte.

Our expedition notes tell us that the fiord leading up to the glacier is 19km (12ml) long, “carved out of the coastal mountain range over thousands of years. However, in 1995, this glacier suddenly shrank, retreating .8km (.5ml) in just 5 months. Then in 1988, it retreated nearly another 1.6km (1 ml) more and so became one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world.”

Web photo of LeConte Glacier

We wouldn’t go right to the face of the glacier as it’s extremely active and the waters at the face are filled with icebergs, large and small. The water at the face is 250 m (810 ft) deep and this glacier is well known for what are known as “shooters”; icebergs that calve off the glacier under water and shoot up and through the surface since the ice is lighter than the water.

Harbour seals migrate to this ice filled end of LeConte Bay for the birthing and rearing of their pups. The ice makes a perfect place to haul out and sometimes many animals can be seen on one iceberg. Here they are safe from predators such as Orca Whales which don’t attempt to navigate this end of the ice filled bay.

And we wouldn’t attempt that end of the bay either! But we did leave ‘Sea Lion” in more open waters and used the inflatable DIBs to travel a few kilometres into the fiord for an afternoon of exploration.

Ready to go on DIB Pisces © JT of jtdytravels; P1130636

These very sturdy inflatable DIBs would allow us to go much further into the bay than we could explore by ship… and we would see some of the largest icebergs in South East Alaska. They’re certainly not as big as those David and I had seen in Antarctica some years ago but there were many and varied icebergs to be seen and enjoyed, both in size and shape with colours from pure white to ice blue.

So let’s head into the fiord and make the most of a sun filled afternoon to get up really close and experience the stunning beauty of some of nature’s amazing ‘ice sculptures’. I’ll let the photos tell the story.

Time’s up! We’re called back to the ship. However, we were in no hurry to leave the magic of floating amongst these strange, fantastic chunks of ice. Our DIB driver, the ship’s bosun, Nicky, and our naturalist guide, Caroline, were enjoying the experience as much as we were. It’s often very wet and quite cold in this fiord, so they, too, were able to enjoy being out amongst the icebergs on a sunny and relatively warm afternoon. Eventually, however, it was indeed time to leave the harbour seals to their solitude and return to “Sea Lion’ with our cameras filled with photos and our minds filled with some truly wonderful memories. And now, we have enjoyed being able to share that memorable experience with you.

More anon

Jennie and David

All photographs © Jennie Thomas & David Young of jtdytravels

Our other travel site is

www.dymusings.com

More of our travel photos are on

www.flickr.com/photos/jtdytravels

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Fiji # 8 : “Garden of the Sleeping Giant” Part 2

Posted in Cruise, Fiji, Garden Flowers, Gardens of the World, Travel, tagged 'Reef Endeavour', art in nature, banana flowers, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji, dragonfly, ferns, Fiji, Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Lautoka, Mamanuca Islands, Nadi, nature's sculptures, orchids, Thunbergia battiscombia, Thunbergia grandiflora, tropical plants, water Iris, waterlilies on March 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I left you wandering in the beautiful orchid gardens of the sleeping giant just off the road between Nadi and Lautoka. But there is much more to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant than just orchids – much more. It’s a tranquil place to walk on a hot day. Unfortunately we did not see it all, partly because of time constraints – we had to get back to the ship for our next island hopping adventure – and partly because cyclone Evan had badly damaged the forest. Much of it was closed to the public for the time being. I’m sure it will be open again soon for those who wish to walk through the forest to the top of the hill for the fine views that I am promised are there.

P1130932 © JT of jtdytravels

The path we were able to walk was a board walk that led us down into a shady gully

where part of the jungle-like undergrowth had been cleared

to make a welcoming grassy patch.

P1050232 © DY of jtdytravels

Small gardens of tropical ground cover plants edge some of the ‘lawn’ area.

This part of the gardens is sometimes used for weddings.

A wedding ‘chapel’ is on the hill above here.

P1050242 © DY of jtdytravels

In the forest, some of the older trees were just magnificent,

held into the ground with formidable roots.

P1130927 © JT of jtdytravels

At the base of the gully is a lush lily pond.

P1130929 © JT of jtdytravels

And where there’s a lily pond, there are usually lilies!

P1130929 © JT of jtdytravels

I love the structure of a lily. One of nature’s beautiful sculptures.

P1050228 © DY of jtdytravels

Several beautiful red dragonflies made use of the lily leaf water pools.

Their gauzy wings are another delight of nature.

P1130939 © JT of jtdytravels

Water iris are another delight found beside this pool.

P1130936 © JT of jtdytravels

Nearby, there were tropical gingers in abundance.

I’ll leave you to enjoy them as we did.

P1130925 © JT of jtdytravels

P1050235 © DY of jtdytravels

P1130931 © JT of jtdytravels

Thunbergia battiscombia P1050223 © DY of jtdytravels

Thunbergia grandiflora P1050245 © DY of jtdytravels

P1130946 © JT of jtdytravels

P1130943 © JT of jtdytravels

Too soon it was time to wend our way back up the board walk towards the entrance.

P1130942 © JT of jtdytravels

On the way there was time to look back at the hills – and enjoy more orchids.

P1130960 © JT of jtdytravels

P1130955 © JT of jtdytravels

Close to the entrance to the gardens is a delightful shaded ‘fern house’.

Palms. Again, one of nature’s masterpieces of sculpture.

A small water ‘rill’ had been diverted through the fern house.

The sound of gently running water gave authenticity to the fern forest feeling.

In this area, dashes of red and gold lifted the predominant greens.

Shape and texture were also there to be enjoyed –

if you took more than a cursory look.

Just outside the fern house, a few bananas were in flower.

Aren’t they superb? Well worth a close look.

The entrance area is furnished with inviting, comfortable cane lounges.

Welcomed back with a cool drink, this is the place to rest awhile.

Taxis arrived, and it was time to leave this delightful garden.

It was time to drive back to Lautoka.

We were about to embark on another island hopping adventure.

With some new passengers on board , we set sail for the Mamanuca Islands.

Arriving at a small coral cay, we stopped to enjoy the late afternoon.

An hour of snorkelling was a great way to end the day.

On the horizon, though, clouds began to gather.

This is the tropics and afternoon storms are very frequent – and to be expected.

Now join us as we sail through the warm tropical waters.

Ahead of us, an interesting three days as we explore the small archipelago of the Mamanuca Islands.

With the Fijian flag flying in the breeze,

we are on board Captain Cook Fiji’s exploration ship, the MV ‘Reef Endeavour’.

Why not join her sometime for your own Fiji adventure!

Jennie and David

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Posts Tagged ‘nature’s sculptures’

USA: Alaska #7 LeConte Glacier Bay

Fiji # 8 : “Garden of the Sleeping Giant” Part 2

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