#46 – North Sandy Cove, Marjorie Glacier, Johns-Hopkins Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier, to Reid Inlet

Another day, another three glaciers! Today it's the Marjorie, the Johns-Hopkins and the Lamplugh. And again it's a long, long haul from our Cove up to the first Glacier. We nap our way to Tarr Inlet, wake up, then notice a large sailing yacht and a cruise ship already exploring the glaciers. Today's weather is gloomy, light rain and fog so we'll need to get close to the glacier's terminus to see anything.

Today's route up Tarr Inlet to Marjorie Glacier, then Johns-Hopkins Inlet to Johns-Hopkins and Lamplugh Glaciers. Thanks to Google Maps.

Rosehearty is a 120+ foot beauty which Google says is owned by Rupert Murdock.

Holland Cruise Lines plies Alaskan Seas in search of its glaciers, and sort of startled us coming out of the fog.

At the end of Tarr Inlet, we moved the boat to the 1/4-mile recommended distance from the face. Closer could mean problems if a large chunk of ice calved off. The falling ice creates a wave, a mini-tsunami, sized according to the size of the calving ice. 1/4-mile is supposed to give you enough time to react to the situation, assuming you pay attention, which we did.

Paying attention to Marjorie's face.

Up close with Marjorie.

This week's Wild Blue crew at the Glacier: Marianne and Vince Fonte, Chuck and Carolyn French.

The crew for the next week are from San Luis Obispo. We know The Fontes and the Frenchs via the local Wednesday night poker game. In fact, in many ways due to poker, we are indebted to each other. Vince and Chuck like “cowboying” and cards, especially when money is involved, and they seem to be upholding these Central California traditions admirably.

After lunching on Pat's tortilla soup in front of Marjorie, which seems somewhat rude, we motored back down Tarr Inlet and up Johns-Hopkins Inlet. J-H is closed until mid-July due to seal birthing/rearing, and we are excited to see if any seals and their pups remain. Besides, son Ryan has a degree from Johns-Hopkins so it's obviously our duty to pay homage to the glacier namesake. We were able to get about a mile from the face before the ice became too thick to continue.

Johns-Hopkins Glacier

One of the few remaining seal pups posed for Chuck's 3-foot lens with attached Nikon

On the way out of J-H Inlet the Lamplugh Glacier protrudes from the south shore. Two cruise ships were positioning their boats so passengers could view the face, as we anchored around the corner in Reid Inlet.