This morning the ship entered the majestic Rudyerd Bay Passage around 6:30 am, to make our way into Rudyerd Bay proper.

Rudyerd Bay is one of the highlights of the highlights of the Alaskan Misty Fjords. It is located about 64 km east of Ketchikan, along the Inside Passage coast in extreme southeastern Alaska. While most of the area is designated as wilderness, Congress reserved an area around the Quartz Hill molybdenum deposit, possibly the largest such mineral deposit in the world.

After an early breakfast, we got kitted up and ready to jump into a Zodiac to head out to explore Rudyerd Bay.

Rudyerd Bay.
Rudyerd Bay.
Keith on deck in Rudyerd Bay.
Keith on deck in Rudyerd Bay.
Looking back to the ship from onboard the Zodiac.
Looking back to the ship from onboard the Zodiac.
An eagle perched high on a tree in Rudyerd Bay.
An eagle perched high on a tree in Rudyerd Bay.
A mink on the shore of Rudyerd Bay.
A mink on the shore of Rudyerd Bay.
Waterfall in Rudyerd Bay.
Waterfall in Rudyerd Bay.
Waterfall in Rudyerd Bay.
Waterfall in Rudyerd Bay.
Andrea and Keith in Rudyerd Bay.
Andrea and Keith in Rudyerd Bay.
Rudyerd Bay.
Rudyerd Bay.
Keith and Andrea in Rudyerd Bay.
Keith and Andrea in Rudyerd Bay.
The ship waiting in Rudyerd Passage.
The ship waiting in Rudyerd Passage.

After about 90 minutes out exploring in Rudyerd Bay, we returned to the ship for some lunch and a few hours of relaxing, admiring the beautiful scenery from the comfort of our cabin.

Looking out to the shoreline of Rudyerd Passage from our cabin.
Looking out to the shoreline of Rudyerd Passage from our cabin.
A brown bear on the shore of Rudyerd Passage.
A brown bear on the shore of Rudyerd Passage.
Rudyerd Passage.
Rudyerd Passage.

Around 6:00 pm we got dressed for dinner and went to the theatre for a very entertaining pre-dinner magic show. We then enjoyed a lovely dinner before heading back to the theatre for the night’s musical entertainment.

Tomorrow we’re heading to the town of Wrangell.