Yesterday we took a day trip up Tracy Arm to see some glaciers. The weather was perfect, and there was very little ice in the water. It’s about 25 miles up Tracy Arm to South Sawyer Glacier, and we were able to go our full cruise speed all the way to South Sawyer Glacier, which mostly never happens! This post is mostly photos, for reasons that will become obvious. Seals … Read more
We departed Taku Harbor this morning around 7am and made our way down a nice and calm Stephens Passage into Tracy Arm. There was no ice at all out in Stephens Passage, and hardly any as we crossed the Tracy Arm Bar. A couple of bergs as we made our way to Tracy Arm Cove. We anchored and then promptly launched the dinghies to go get a closer look at … Read more
We awoke to bright sun streaming in through every window and port light…a glorious morning in Cannery Cove! Rubicon was pulling out just as we got up to take photos…they got an early start today to look for wildlife out by the Brothers Islands. The rest of the group headed out a little after 8:00a.m. and saw some wildlife along the way: sea otters (one with a baby on its … Read more
A few hours after we got to Auke Bay, two more friends arrived: Erika, who we went to college with, and Josh, her partner. The next day, with six of us aboard Akeeva, we headed to Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier, and Ford’s Terror. Even after 15-plus visits, this little section of Alaska delights. The combination of moderate travel distances, protected water, magnificent fjord scenery, wildlife, solitude, and a tidewater glacier … Read more
The weather during this flotilla hasn’t all been great, but when it has counted the most (in the most beautiful spots), the weather weather has cooperated unusually well. Few experiences during a summer cruise in Alaska rival visiting a tidewater glacier, and being able to do it on a sunny day is a huge bonus. Somehow, we lucked into wonderful weather for our trip up Endicott Arm and into Ford’s … Read more
Juneau, like most towns in Alaska, launches 4th of July fireworks as the clock rolls from 11:59 p.m. on July 3rd to 12:00 a.m. July 4th. This is because during summer in Alaska darkness is short-lived. In order for the fireworks to occur on July 4th under maximum darkness they must be launched in the wee hours of the morning. This year, the fireworks show wasn’t a sure thing. Southeast … Read more
We had a week off in between flotilla legs, so we invited friends Jake and Patti to fly up from San Diego and join us on a trip down to Tracy Arm and Ford’s Terror, and we buddy-boated with Ralph on Jester while his daughter Sara and her husband David were in town. We left Juneau on the morning of the 26th and headed for Tracy Arm Cove (~42nm south … Read more
Soon after the flotilla arrived in Juneau I had to leave the boat and return to the lower 48 by air. Juneau is a great place to do this since there’s first-come, first-served open moorage available (rather than hot-berthing), reasonable rates (~$230 for a month, with power!), and good airline service (Alaska and Delta fly multiple flights per day to/from Seattle). Leaving the boat in a strange port can be … Read more