Kevin and I flew home for a few days for some family business, then returned to Juneau on the fourth of July. But we were so tired that we slept through the midnight fireworks completely. Oh well. On Sunday we had a down day…did some shopping, met friends Dan and Eileen for dinner, and thought about coming up with a rough plan for our route home (but still haven’t yet…I … 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 left Scenery Cove around 6am for the 50nm cruise up to Pybus Bay. Water was flat calm and the scenery was majestic. Kevin put the 360 Cam down at the bow and got some killer footage of the porpoises…he wins: We spotted a handful of humpback spouts ahead between Pybus Bay and the Brothers Islands, and Carrie on IF got some nice shots of a mama and a … Read more
Saturday: We left Takatz Bay with the idea we might stop in at Warm Springs, but it was just completely socked in with fog and we opted to keep going to Red Bluff and spend two nights there instead. We texted with friends Tom and Tish on Alaska Quest who were headed to Warm Springs (and hoping for more of my homemade hot sauce), and after comparing schedules (they had … Read more
Tuesday morning brought sunshine and blue skies, and this amazing view of the mountain bowl. It never looks as big or as grand in photos as it does in real life though. Looking at the conditions, we definitely could have moved to a new spot Tuesday morning to wait for the storm to pass through on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, but then we wouldn’t be somewhere as beautiful as this … Read more
Another 6am departure time…but really only because today was a 52nm day…and conditions out on Frederick Sound were glassy and gorgeous so why NOT be out there as soon as we wake? This view as we head north from Petersburg never gets old. Devil’s Thumb (the tallest point in this mountain range) was obscured by the clouds, but it’s fine…we may see it again next time. We even had some … Read more
Day 25 – The group left the Thomas Bay anchorage early this morning and headed north in Frederick Sound toward Pybus Bay at the south end of Admiralty Island. As we neared the Brothers Islands, the wildlife sightings began! Over at West Brother Island — a colony of sea lions (over 100 as reported by Free Solo and Seabear) as well as some orcas. The orcas came to visit Airship … Read more