Pop the Cork! An Anniversary Celebration Turns Grizzly

Tuesday, June 15

I can still remember Eric and Lydia’s wedding in Chatauqua like it was yesterday. Charming and intimate. It rained all day, which not only portends a good marriage, but also was a phenomenon they seemingly anticipated, as the guests’ gifts were huge umbrellas imprinted with their June 15 wedding date.

So it was a special joy to pop a cork on the evening of June 15 (after anchoring in the South Arm of Fingers Bay in Glacier Bay) to celebrate their anniversary in a setting surrounded by snow-capped mountains ... but a bit of a jolt to realize it was their 8^th!!! Why do the years fly so quickly as we grow older?

Roland set up the tripod on the bow, and with glasses of champagne in hand, their anniversary became a wonderful photo op, as we all piled on the steps leading up to the flybridge for a group shot.

But that wasn’t the only photo op of the evening. About 20 minutes later, as we were sipping champagne on the aft deck, Lydia noticed a big grizzly on the shoreline. Our first grizzly!!!! She was considering waking Cade up to see the bear … but quickly was overruled. Instead, we all pulled out cameras and started snapping photos.

I’m glad there was a good distance of water separating us. This bear was big.

Tomorrow. Onward to explore glaciers!