July 30 – Day 89 On shore play day at Thomas Bay

July 30 – Day 89  On shore play day at Thomas Bay

 

Hiked to the Cascade Creek waterfall and up the river.   They have rebuilt/replaced the bridge over the raging river above the waterfall.  Much nicer in all aspects.    This place is beautiful.

After that adventure we were back at the big boats waiting for high tide so we could go to the Baird Glacier.   This photo is of Glen anxiously waiting (and napping) in the boat, not wanting to be left behind.

 

We went to the glacier and found the glacial river outlet, so up the river we went.  Could not get to the face of the glacier due to one large iceberg blocking the route.   But had some great views and ride up there.  Dave, Jane, and Mary were in Dave's dinghy supposedly following but they did not show up.  So Glen dropped the rest of us off on shore (land side not onto the ice) and went back down river looking for them.   We land explorers started rock hunting, flower hunting, etc…  The wind off the glacier was cold but if we stood behind the large rocks we were out of the wind and it was actually pretty comfortable.  Well at least for a while.   Sometime later Glen had not returned so we started wondering if something had happened to the Jet boat or had he just abandoned us.   Someone said that we were going to freeze and starve.  I told them that they could eat each other for food, but I had a treat bar in my pocket so I'd be okay.   

 

Baird Glacier

 

Flowers growing in the glacial rocks

 

Michelle hiding from the glacial wind

 

Glen finally came back with Dave, Mary, and Jane but no dinghy.  He took them up the river to see the glacier at the farthest point we could get to, then returned to our beach camp to pick up the survivors.    Turned out that Dave had hit a rock and broken something in his dinghy motor so they were stranded at the start of the river.  On the way out we picked up and towed the dinghy to deep water, then decided to lessen the load and had Dave and Jane float in their dinghy while Glen took the rest of us back to the mother ships.  Then he and Steve went back in Nellie to retrieve them. 

While the guys did their rescue mission the rest of us prepared dinner to have it ready when they got back.   Had a taco night as that was easy and fast to prepare.