Wind and rain buffeted our boats overnight in Appleton Cove, but this morning the wind had died down somewhat, and the rain had mainly stopped as we pulled anchors and headed for Sitka. We spotted another bear on shore this morning from Airship…it wandered out for a few minutes to eat some grass and then back into the trees it went. Layers of silver and gray looking west in Peril … Read more
What a difference a day makes! Today was rainy and gray…which is to say, much more what we’re accustomed to for weather in SE Alaska! No bear sighting at Takatz Bay this time, but we enjoyed our time dinghying around regardless. As we entered Chatham Strait and headed north for Peril Strait, Dog Star put up a sail!! We’re all anchored now in Appleton Cove. A few crab pots have … Read more
Red Bluff Bay was stunning to wake up to this morning. No more bears, just blue skies and warm sun. Kevin and David took the dinghies out to pull the shrimp pots (dropped near the entrance) while Julie and I cruised Dog Star and Airship slowly out to pick them up. David: zero shrimp. Kevin: one shrimp (to add to the three he brought in last night). A ridiculously bad … Read more
Everyone was anchors up by 6am today for the long run up to Red Bluff Bay (60nm). Julie from Dog Star snapped this beautiful pic of the sunrise this morning. Airship was the last one out! The water in the bay was flat, but turned to lazy swells as we got out into the open. A little beamy and rolly, but not too bad. We transited closer to Kuiu Island … Read more
Yesterday underway to Explorer Basin while reviewing the weather for the week, we noticed that conditions looked potentially favorable for a run down to Egg Harbor on Coronation Island. We’ve taken our group down here a couple times, and we’ve had it on the itinerary for a few years…but since getting to the island is very dependent on weather, we’ve had to scrap those plans several years in a row. … Read more
Today was a longer cruise — 59nm from Cannery Cove down to Explorer Basin on Kuiu Island. But the potential for whales is extremely high along the west side of Kuiu Island and down near Tebenkoff Bay and Explorer Basin, and it’s one of the most remote spots we visit. AND the weather today was PERFECT for our 6am departure. We crossed Frederick Sound and headed south in Chatham Strait. … Read more
We said goodbye to the appropriately named Scenery Cove by 6am this morning for our 52nm cruise up Frederick Sound to Cannery Cove in Pybus Bay. Conditions in Frederick Sound were calm, with just a little occasional drizzle. We saw several humpbacks in the distance, breaching, and tail- and fin-slapping. Dall’s porpoises surfed the bow of Airship for a half an hour or so. As we neared the Brothers Islands … Read more
We got back into the glacial lake at Baird Glacier again tonight (high tide 7:30pm). Armed with the GPS breadcrumbs from the route we eventually found in yesterday, we got right in and spent about an hour cruising in and out of the mostly grounded icebergs and bergie bits. No rain, and we dressed a bit warmer tonight! Julie (Dog Star) took these two shots with Kevin and I in … Read more