Up early again today, I'm not sure if it ever really got dark last night. Mum was up at 3.30pm to go to the bathroom and it was light out already. We dropped anchor at 6am to pick up our ranger for Glacier Bay National Park. Usually you only get one day in this area but for some reason we have been lucky enough to score a permit for 2 days.

While still in the room, we saw an otter floating past on his back, looking like he had no worries in the world. We also saw a whale off in the distance. Breakfast was served at 7.30am and then we were given a talk by the Ranger about the birds we should hopefully see as we came to South Marble Island. Bit difficult to tell some of them apart although we did see 2 different types of puffins and also lots of Sea Lions lazing about on the rocks and also hanging out in the water. Even saw one with a fish, that the gulls tried to scavenge.

Just before a place called Gloomy Knob, a brown bear was spotted walking along the beach, obviously looking for tasty morsels to eat and then some humpbacks were also spotted in the waters around the ship. What a great first morning. At Gloomy Knob, we were told to be on the look out for Mountain Goats but this was the time mum and I had been booked in for the complimentary massage each guest is entitled to. We didn't choose the time, it was all booked in but at least it helped get rid of some of those travel kinks and there wasn't too much wildlife viewing happening at this point.

During lunch, we started seeing pieces of ice floating past and went past our first glaciers. We then came to a point called "Jaw Point" (ranger said because people's jaw drops when they see the view around the corner). It was a a stunning view. We slowly sailed down John Hopkins Inlet to John Hopkins

Glacier. This inlet is where hundreds of Harbour Seals come to give birth as it gives them some protection from Orcas. Killer Whales use their hearing to find the seals but with all the ice in the water, it confuses their senses (ranger said it is like a whirlpool sound to them). However, the pup season ends on July 1, so ships are allowed back in after this date.

We saw a few seals float by on pieces of ice, getting a free ride, enjoying the sunshine. We were blessed today with the weather. Heading down this inlet, the sun was just glorious and really showed off this glacier. We spent a good hour or more just enjoying the beautiful views enveloping us before it was time to turn around and head back and around another corner in the Tarr Inlet where we were faced with two different glaciers. Margerie Glacier, where we hoped to see some ice calving and the Grand Pacific Glacier which actually starts in Canada. This time we saw some Sea Otters taking a free ride on some ice floating by. We saw a couple of small pieces of ice calve off the glacier. It makes such a thundering noise. If you aren't watching when it happens and turn once you hear the noise, you actually miss the event.

While we were travelling to these glaciers, the Ranger gave another talk on the set up of the park and how it came into being. She is very passionate about her job. After dinner, she gave a talk on a personal 'wilderness experience' where she went kayaking alone for 10 days out here in the park and she had everyone enthralled. We also had the chance to choose our activity for tomorrow. Due to regulations in the park, only one activity allowed - choice between Bushwacking, Kayak or Kayak 101 (for those who maybe haven't done it before or it's been a while). We chose Kayak 101 to give mum the chance to try it out and were lucky enough to get our first choice.

Decided to try and have a bit of an earlier night but the hot tub was calling my name so I went and had a soak in that for about an hour. What an experience, soaking in hot water, surrounded by the peace and quiet of this amazing national park - still calm waters, snow covered mountain peaks, craggy rock faces and a glacier off in the distance. Life doesn't get much better then this.