2004 Testimonials
Your fabulous four-hour wildlife tour on the Esther G was the highlight of
our week stay in Sitka. We've never been so close to a pod of whales or smelled
whale breath until our tour with you. The trip to Saint Lazaria Island with
otters, puffins, eagles, murres, cormorants, and guillemots alone would have
been worth the trip. This is the best trip in Southeast Alaska. Those folks
considering a trip with Davey can rest assured that he
really knows his stuff and is a delightful host aboard his very comfortable
boat. We highly recommend the four hour trip. Time just flies out there on
the water.
Barney and Dale Bouton -
Beverly, MA
The trip you gave us out of Sitka was great. It was so good to have a guide
who actually knows his birds!! We’ll meet again, I don’t doubt.
Michael Jeneid (professional birder and wildlife photographer)
- Stinson Beach, California
We had a great time on the Esther G. - thanks to the magnificent surroundings,
splendid weather, exciting wildlife and your enthusiastic and knowledgeable
navigation of Sitka Sound. (Lisa's cookies weren't bad either!) We'll recommend
you to all our friends who come to Alaska.
Risa Kleiner -
Princeton, NJ
I can't thank you enough for the wonderful trip to St. Lazaria. It was the
highlight of our Alaskan trip. I have wanted to see a puffin for so long, and
I can't think of a better time and place to have seen one. Not only did I see
the puffins, I got to see where they nest. Plus, on the way, I was treated
to whales, Bald eagles, cormorants, guillemots, and even an otter. What a trip!
I will remember it forever! Thanks, again. If we're ever in your part of the
world again, I'd love to look you up and take another trip.
Barbara Gerletti-Weiss and Ed Weiss -
Auburn, California
Just wanted to tell you how much our group enjoyed the trip on the Esther G
last Sunday. What a beautiful area you live in and how fortunate you are to
see all the wildlife and beauty every time you step outside. Sitka is a remarkably
beautiful, peaceful place and we'll always have great memories of our trip.
Thank you for showing us part of it and for making my son Dylan feel such a
part of the trip. It was wonderful watching him as he saw all the whales, otters,puffins,
eagles, etc. It was truly a breath taking trip.
MaryElla Shirley -
Cary, NC
We went out on a Thursday morning and experienced one of the most incredible
things a person could ask for going to Alaska...seeing two giant humpback
whales feeding during the herring season. …If you ever visit Sitka,
Alaska, I highly, highly recommend you take a boat tour with Captain Davey
Lubin on the Esther G II I promise you will NOT regret it! We saw whales,
eagles, murres, sea lions, seals, sea otters and a whole lot of other things.
Davey made the tour fun, educational, extremely safe, and down right inspiring!
AND...for all you photographers like myself, he made an extra effort to get
me close to the wildlife without actually disturbing them. I personally can't
imagine a trip to Sitka without going on his tour
Frank Tupas and Alena Winters -
San Diego, CA
July 2004…Along with six members of our family, three generations, we
traveled to Sitka for a week's vacation. Little did we know that our two trips
out on the Sitka Sound with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Captain Davey
on the Esther G II would be the most stunning experiences of our week! We were
completely delighted by scenes of beauty and quiet magic as we skimmed around
the islands while observing a multitude of birds, including puffins, and marine
life, including four humpback whales, who performed for us. One whale dove
under the boat voicing a booming sound that vibrated the Esther G II as we
sat in awe………. ….Back home again, we look at one another
and wonder, "Did we dream that we saw puffins and whales?
Betty and Gillett Bechtel -
The Sea Ranch, CA
Thank you so much for the 2 boat rides we took with you! They were amazing!
I never dreamed I could be THAT close to a whale ever in the wild! You and
your boat made my alaska trip MUCH cooler than it would have been if we hadn't
done the rides. Thanks again and I will DEFINATELY be coming back to see some
orcas next time…..
Sarah Brown, 16 -
Southern CA
…we want to thank you for the best trip yet we've had to the [Goddard
Hot] Springs. The boys and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the sea lions and the
humpbacks on our return to town.
Hal & Margie (Goddard) Larsen -
St. George, Utah
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to St. Lazaria Island on the Esther G. Your
deep knowledge of the wildlife and good humor are a great combination. This
was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Tufted puffin, Pigeon guillemot
and Black oystercatcher in detail (whales, sea lions and otters to boot). I
will recommend this trip for any birder who makes it to Sitka.
Jeff Cowell -
Nashville, Tennessee
Thanks for a wonderful excursion this morning. Terry, Evan, Susan and I enjoyed
your company as well as the exciting and informative tour of the bay on the
Esther G. The bagels and smoked salmon were wonderful as well.
Michael and Susan Lichterman, Clifford Norton Studio
- Cleveland, Ohio
…
Everything was wonderful. We enjoyed our trip immensely…Thanks for a
fabulous time
Terry and Evan Tetelman -
Cleveland, Ohio
Here are the orca photographs…. Barry and I thoroughly enjoyed our boat
trip, you made it very interesting.
Mary and Barry Shanks -
Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
This was our first family trip to Alaska, and something we looked forward to
for months. Our trip with you exceeded our high expectations and created
special memories of marine wildlife and birds we will carry a lifetime. We
gaze at our pictures of the sea lion colony, the sea otter rafts, the humpback
whale spouts, bald eagles and puffins in disbelief that we saw all this in
one cruise. Thanks for the professional tour service. Your energy, enthusiasm
and knowledge greatly enhanced the experience for all in my family. It is
obvious that you love your work. We are back in Florida and thousands of
miles away, but in our minds eye we are still on The Esther G II taking in
the splendor off the coast of Sitka. Thank you!!!!
The McCarthy Family -
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
This is Kris Bridge, the lady who visited after 50 years in exile from Sitka.
Thanks again for the magical tour - It was so great (even if we never smelled
the whale breath).
Kris and Chas Bridge -
Sequim, WA
Attached are some pictures from our wonderful cruise on the Esther G II. We
had such a wonderful time, and I'm still thrilled when I look at the pictures
of the wildlife we saw. It was a great day, and we really enjoyed getting to
spend some time with you. Hope we get to see you again soon on our next trip
to Alaska!
Pat and Chuck Laubersheimer - Minnesota
We enjoyed the trip with you very much. It was one of the highlights. We know
someone who may be doing the Alaska cruise soon and we will certainly recommend
you. In fact, I would suggest a 4 hour trip….
Bill Steinberg -
Champlain, NY
What a great day we had with you. You gave us so much attention and we really
felt so well cared for and safe. The trip was exciting and adventurous too!
We saw so many great sites: the salmon running, eagles flying, humpback whales
all around us, diving and spewing (love that whale breath); and the most beautiful
scenery of trees, mountains, and waterfalls. It was all so special and wild,
not commercial or touristy. All this in just a half day, how amazing you are!
It was very inspiring. Anyone who wants to really experience the beauty and
wonder of the Alaska coast would be lucky to have you as a guide Davey.
Genevieve Megginson - Pittsboro, NC
…we were on your boat last week to see Whales! We had a great time,
it was truly the highlight of our cruise! Thank you so much for a wonderful
afternoon! My husband and I would love to fly up to Sitka sometime and have
you take us around again…..Tell your wife "thank you" for the
awesome cookies too!
Vickie Malmstrom,
Jeff, Gunnar, David and Aunt Teri
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your Marine Tour. Your knowledge
of birds and other marine wildlife really raised my knowledge level several
notches. As a guide, your articulate delivery of information is the best I've
encountered in years of travel. My afternoon spent with you aboard the Esther
G will long be remembered as a
highlight of my visit to Sitka.
Pat Hegerberg -
Spokane,WA
Thank you so much fo such a great experience. it was the highlight of the
trip for all of us. We were all able to get good "tail" pictures,
which is something we were craving. We loved being able to see otters, puffins,
sea lions and eagles and the great weather was just the "cherry on the
top".
We were all happy to have met you and to have had such a wonderful guide.
Eleonora Uribe -
Miami, Florida
Mary and I had a great Alaska trip and returned home safely. Thanks for the
memories.
David & Mary Bechtol - Canyon, Texas
We loved our trip with you last week. Thanks for the cookies.......
Donna Optican -
Los Angeles, CA
I am one of your very, very satisfied past customers. My Mom and I were lucky
enough to have spent a wonderful sunny afternoon with you as our guide watching
whales breach and the ocean sparkle. Although, we were there almost 11 months
ago now, I still remember your wife’s great cookies you shared with us.
The afternoon we spent with you was truly the highlight of our Alaska 7 day
cruise.
Monika Szopinska -
Toronto, Ontario
I just wanted to send a note of thanks for the great experience that my son
and I enjoyed with you on the Ester G. It was truly a feast for all the senses.
From the beautiful weather to the sights, sounds, smells (whew!!!) and spray
of the humpback whales exhalations in our faces, the puffins, muries, eagles,
otters, sea lions and of course your wife's tasty cookies. This was a very
memorable event in our lives that we will never forget and plan to repeat someday
soon. I have told everyone that I know about the friendly, enthusiastic and
informative manner with which you conduct your wildlife excursions. I have
and will continue to heartily recommend that anyone visiting Sitka take advantage
of the opportunity to spend a day with you on the water and get in touch with
the real Alaska!
Brad and Erik Landon -
Cypress, CA
…just wanted to let you know that Justin and I had a great time
whale watching with you in July. It was the highlight of our trip! You were
very knowledgeable about the puffins and local wildlife. We're glad to have
located you when we were in Sitka.
Kulwadee and Justin Yung - Durham, NC