We awoke to the sun peeking through the clouds and light wind, perfect for the 40 mile run to Red Bluff Bay. This trip—through Frederick Sound, around Pt. Gardner, and across Chatham Strait—can be bumpy and miserable when the wind is blowing. We had no wind, no chop, calm seas. Often we see many whales in this area, but not today. A few boats saw a few spouts, but nothing … Read more
After several days in Petersburg, we were ready to be anchored again. Originally we’d planned to go to Portage Bay, then Pybus Bay the following day. But since Pybus Bay is so much larger and prettier than Portage, we decided to head directly to Cannery Cove in Pybus Bay and spend two nights. The ~50nm cruise up from Petersburg was beautiful: mostly cloudy, occasional heavy rain squalls, glaciers and mountains … Read more
We decided to spend three nights in Petersburg. Part of the reason was practical: we arrived late in the afternoon, will depart in the morning, and will spend a full day out at Le Conte Glacier. This barely gives enough time to get groceries, fix any boat problems, do laundry, or explore Petersburg. Plus we really like Petersburg; it’s a charming, proud small town. So the day after arriving in … Read more
The group left Wrangell by around 10:00 a.m. this morning and headed for Wrangell Narrows. Petersburg is only 40nm from Wrangell, but the short distance belies the complexity of the route. About half that distance is transiting Wrangell Narrows, a winding, shallow, rock-lined, and busy waterway. Alaska State Ferries, fish boats, tugs and barges, sport fishing boats, and cruising boats all transit Wrangell Narrows routinely. About the only boats that … Read more
Another sunny day! We are getting seriously spoiled by the recent weather. Airship left Thoms Place at 8:00 a.m. this morning, a little earlier than the others. The transient moorage at Heritage Harbor in Wrangell is first-come first-served, so it helps to have a lead boat get in first and help find space for the others. Prior to leaving we pulled up the two traps we had out and found … Read more
We awoke to decidedly un-Alaskan weather: bright sun (even at 4:00 a.m.), warm temperatures (eventually the mid-70s), and light wind. With only four hours to get to Thoms Place, we didn’t rush out of Meyers Chuck. Some people explored by dinghy, others dinghied to the dock and wandered the trails. Unfortunately we didn’t see Cassie delivering cinnamon rolls. Eventually, around 10:00 a.m., we weighed anchor and headed for Thoms Place. … Read more
The flotilla left Ketchikan this morning and headed for Meyers Chuck. Another sunny day! We had about 15 knots of wind from the northwest which created a little chop on top of the low swells as we approached Behm Canal. These are the toughest conditions we’ve had yet–enough to splash a little saltwater on the windows (and free the holding tank sensors from their stuck positions) but not much else. … Read more
Our time in Ketchikan has been spent shopping, doing chores, reprovisioning, visiting the marine stores and museums, and eating out. Ketchikan centers up and down one main street (Tongass Avenue) so it’s relatively easy to get from here to there either on foot, or by using Uber or riding the city bus. We mainly choose to walk to and from everywhere, since we don’t get much walking while cruising. (On … Read more