“Huh,” he says. “That’s why you’re meeting with Heather?”
“Mm-hm.” Something catches my eye and I gasp as a black fin emerges from the water, followed quickly by three more. They must be exhaling, because puffs of breath rise up from the sea just before the fins disappear. “Are those—?”
Jack chuckles. “Yep. Lucky break. You got your orcas there.”
“Oh, my God!”
I fumble for the camera on my phone, and it’s ready just as they breach again, this time several yards away from where I’d seen them before.
“Whales!” I shout, laughing as I click photo after photo. “Those are whales!”
“Sure are,” says Jack with a chuckle. “Still remember the first time I saw them. Magical, huh?”
“Amazing!” I shout, hoping that they’ll come up one more time.
But a moment later, we’re turning left off the main road into a dirt driveway where I see a sign for the Fortress of the Bears.
“Here we are.”
I can’t lie: I’m disappointed at first. With the main area under construction and a hut-like gift shop that has seen better days, it doesn’t look like much.
“Er…can you come back for me in an hour?”
“You were my last pick-up,” says Jack. “Cruise ships are docking. I’ve got a bunch of transfers set up around nine.”
“Cruise ships?”
“Uh-huh. Two of them got in this morning. Princess and Royal Caribbean. Holland America’s coming in later. That’s why Heather let you come early. It’ll be swamped here in an hour.”
I think about the quiet streets of Sitka last night and wonder how much that’ll change today. A lot, I’d wager. Average-sized cruise ships can carry well over 2,000 passengers, and I am certain that this particular attraction is a favorite among families.
“How do I get back to town?”
“One of the cabs doing a drop-off might take you back for cash if they don’t have to be somewhere else. Worse comes to worse, it’s only a five-mile walk along the highway. Just follow the road.”
Only five miles? God, I can’t remember the last time I walked more than a mile.
I sigh, paying Jack and thanking him for the ride. Alone a moment later when he kicks up gravel pulling out of the driveway, I notice a large welcome board with pictures and names of the bears in residence and take a moment to get some photos.
Toby, Lucky, Killisnoo, and Chaik.
Smokey, Bandit, and Tuliaan.
Nuka, and Nikiski.
Ranging in age from two- to ten-years-old, their beautiful brown and black faces are full of mischief and curiosity in the pictures, and I’m fascinated by their stories.
“Most of their mothers were killed when they wandered into civilization,” says a voice from behind me.
I turn to find a young woman in khaki shorts and a dark green windbreaker, her hair back in a bun and glasses perched on her nose.
“Hi.” I smile, holding out my hand. “Are you Heather?”
She nods. “Heather Haines. And you’re…Amanda?”
“Yes,” I say. “Thanks so much for seeing me.”
“No problem. We love it that you’ll be bringing awareness to our project.”