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July 29, 2025 Marti Eicholz Kodiak Island, the “Emerald Isle,” features untouched forests, meadows, and mountains with opportunities for hiking, a haven for wildlife on land like the famous Kodiak bears, mountain goats, and various bird species, plus, diverse wildlife in the surrounding waters like whales, sea lions, and sea otters. After spending a day in Kodiak, Alaska, getting glimpses into Alaskan coastal life, exploring the town, enjoying the cuisine, and learning about the island’s history, The Odyssey leaves this major port city. Cruising from Kodiak, Alaska, through the Aleutian Islands, a chain of over three hundred islands, seventy dramatic volcanic landmasses stretching southwest 1.200 miles from the southwestern tip of Alaska, forming part of the “Ring of Fire,” an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The Aleutians are dotted with numerous volcanoes, some still active, rugged coastlines, pristine waters, creating dramatic ever-changing stunning landscapes at every turn and unique ecosystems. The islands are home to various wildlife, including sea otters, whales, and various bird species. The Aleutian Islands offers an adventurous journey through a remote and rugged archipelago. The Aleutian Islands are the ancestral homeland of the Unangax (also known as Aleut) people, who have inhabited the islands for millennia and who have a long and rich history and culture tied to the islands’ resources and environment. The Aleutian Islands are important to the whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and seabirds living and feeding in the Aleutian ecosystem, rookeries for seals, sea lions, and critical migration routes for endangered whales. The Aleutians played a role in World War II. The islands were the site of a WWII battle and occupation by Japanese forces, impacting the islands and the Unangax people. The weather in this area is unpredictable and known to be harsh. It is common to experience foggy conditions, fierce winds, heavy rainfall, and rough seas, making for a challenging environment. The Odyssey is taking the most direct route from Kodiak (the island south of mainland Alaska) to Hakodate Japan which involves crossing the Gulf of Alaska, passing Dutch Harbor, the largest community in the Aleutians, offering World War II history, Russian history, and access to fishing, hiking, and birding, then north and west, which naturally leads into the Bering Sea. Once in the Bering Sea, The Odyssey continues south towards the Pacific Ocean and then west towards Japan. Our transpacific eleven-day journey to Hakodate, Japan, starting in Kodiak, Alaska with seven time zone changes, is really a ten-day sail, since we lose one day, crossing the international date line. You ask, “What does this mean?” Cruising from Kodiak Island to Hakodate, Japan, involves crossing the International Date Line (IDL). This means that as the Odyssey travels west, it will effectively "gain" a day when crossing the IDL, a key element of this journey. The International Date Line (commonly known as the Line of Demarcation), an imaginary north-south line in the Pacific Ocean, runs down the middle of the Pacific Ocean marking the transition between calendar days. If you are traveling to the west and cross the dateline, then you gain a day. Although if you are travelling to the east and cross the date line you will lose a day. Crossing the date line, we become a time traveler of sorts! Crossing west, one day later; crossing back, “gone back in time." While there isn't a specific ceremony for the International Date Line like the traditional Equator crossing ceremony, it is a travel milestone we will celebrate with a toast and a time of recognition. Why an International Date Line? The Earth is a globe, so where does a day begin and end? In a globalized world, everyone needs to know what time it is. We arrive on August 7 in Hakodate, Japan, a port city on the island of Hokkaido, known for its fresh seafood, a blend of historical sites and modern attractions, and scenic views. We plan to explore the morning market, a good place to enjoy squid sashimi, soak in the Yunokawa hot springs, visit Goryokaku Fort, a star-shaped fort, the Motomachi district with its mix of Western and Japanese architecture, and enjoy panoramic views from Mt. Hakodate. We will spend over a month, experiencing diverse cultures in Japan & South Korea. While I have been writing this post, Tsunami warnings were issued for Alaska's Aleutian Islands, Hawaii, Japan, along the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday after a major 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia. Being aboard The Odyssey, I feel safe, calm and at peace. It’s Tuesday, time for dinner. I will go to bed tonight and wake up on Thursday, July 31. Sea days are a wonderful time to relax and enjoy the amenities and services of The Odyssey. I am prepared for a mix of on-board activities and scenic views. |
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