Another sunny day in Ford’s Terror! We’re gonna soak it all up, too, because looking ahead shows a whole bunch of cloudy/rainy days. This morning’s shrimp trap pull: 50 more coonstripes and one big spot prawn daddy. When discussing what to do with our fresh Dungeness crab from yesterday at Wood Spit, the words “crab benedict” popped up (one of my favorites!) and so this morning, guess what Taylor made!?? … Read more
Last night at Wood Spit, just as we were going to bed, a humpback cruised past us, spouting and lunge feeding as it made its way around the spit. The light was very low, but I took a few shots anyway. Super cool! Also, I forgot to post the video Kevin took while he and Taylor were out halibut fishing…several humpbacks breaching right behind them (mama and calf are first). … Read more
We had a couple days off (sort of) in Juneau between the flotilla and having friends join us…we also provisioned, did a bunch of laundry, picked up some supplies, went to the marine store, and also tried to do some sightseeing and touristy stuff with Andrea before she left. Wednesday: Once our friends Lauren and Taylor arrived, we were fully back in non-work mode. We stopped at Devil’s Cub Brewery … Read more
We’ve been unusually quiet for the last year. Cancelling trips, refunding money, doing circles around the San Juan Islands while waiting for the COVID crisis to blow over had us a bit down. But we’re finally underway again, and it feels great! A few months ago, several things became clear: any American who wanted to be vaccinated could be fully vaccinated by the end of May, travel and socializing is … Read more
Frosty Bay was gray with drizzle when we awoke — first gray day in quite a few! We made coffee and pulled anchor just before 9:00 a.m. and continued down Seward Passage and into Ernest Sound. I had plotted our course all the way to Meyers Chuck, but we really wanted to stay somewhere we hadn’t been before. Between Anan and Meyers Chuck there aren’t many anchorages that seem like … Read more
Yesterday morning we decided to check on a permit for Anan Wildlife Observatory since we’d be passing right by today. July 5 is the very first day of the high season and the first day each year that you need a permit to visit (read: there’s a good chance to see bears). Prior to July 5 and after August 25 you don’t need a permit. As I mentioned yesterday, we were … Read more
From Petersburg I had two goals: see as many new anchorages as possible, and make it to Ketchikan (only about 110 nautical miles) before a flight out of town in a week. Easy! After a morning of chores in Petersburg, I rode the flood south, to arrive at Papke’s Landing (roughly the mid-point, where the flood current from each side meets) at high water. The timing worked out nicely, but … Read more
When I first came to Alaska, I was unprepared for the scale. Even Southeast—the relatively small portion of the state where I’ve cruised—is truly vast. Somewhere around 70,000 people inhabit an area that stretches more than 300 miles south to north and a hundred miles west to east. Even a few miles from the population centers, it’s easy to find solitude. By solitude, I don’t just mean a lack of … Read more