On the same day that I saw the Eldred Rock Light, I was keenly aware of how big Alaska really is. As the day progressed, the ship continued to sail south. The mountains rose up out of the water in the distance. Even with how far away they were, they still looked powerful, rugged, and massive.
As daylight turned to dusk, we were treated to a beautiful sunset. I snapped as many pictures as I could. Some of them turned out decently enough. As the sun continued to set, a cruise ship could be seen in the distance. This ship was headed north up the Inside Passage, as opposed to our southern course. I knew the ship was massive; however, against the mountains and the water, it looked like a toy.
The other ship steamed into the evening. I found myself thinking about how small these ships and we were in the grand scheme of things. It was also a stark reminder of how isolated most of Alaska is. I thought back to the books I had read about people living in Alaska. I used to read a lot of them as a kid. I remember reading one called Alaska Bush Pilot. I couldn’t help but think about how much bigger Alaska would feel from a small one-engine float plane versus one of these massive ships. It really inspires awe for nature and the dangerous, albeit beautiful, Alaskan territory.
The sunset eventually faded, but the thoughts continued. Alaska is a beautiful place. Just like many things, danger comes with the beauty. On this visit, I was glad I was on a bigger ship than the boat I had been aboard previously (although that was a fantastic story that will be told once I’ve digitized some photos).
As I jot down these random thoughts about Alaska tonight and look at this photo of a sunset, I can’t help but feel the urge to want to visit this place again someday. It really is a magical place.
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