Port Protection to Sitka May 20-23

May 20, we left Port Protection and headed for The Summit by way of Devils Elbow channel. It's a narrow channel, well marked, and very shallow in some areas, but we made it with no problems.

There are a lot of Islets in Keku Strait and we just love this area. It is very pretty as all the scenery is very close. Usually we're looking at rocks and trees in the far off distance.











We stopped at this little islet for lunch on our way to Point Camden.
















Such a beautiful collection of nature. From trees, moss, rocks, grass, limbs, leaves and bushes. A collage of nature.... just breathtaking.














Point Camden at sunset.





Snow peaks on our way to Baranof. Thank God the Warm Springs were around the corner.







Teal tied up at Baranof Warm Spring dock. We took a soak in beautiful hand carved wooden tub. All the homes in the area have tubs on their back porches with pipes bringing them water from the warm spring.

Very nice treat, especially since there are no skeeters yet. It was most enjoyable.

We hiked up the hill to the spring itself, but couldn't get thru as there was still snow on the trail.

We hear that in the summer when the fish are running, the docks are rafted deep with fishing boats and fishermen taking advantage of the warm baths. Pre-season is definitely the time to be here.


These homes were affixed to foundations on the hillside. Two winters ago, when the snow was 35ft deep, the houses got a shove off their foundations, and they appear to be ready to enter the drink. They were originally built as float houses, which we saw so many of on Vancouver Island. Well they may float yet again. There is a saying in these parts that all wooden structures "return to the earth" eventually. Well I guess these guys will be returning to the sea....


This is the perfect Bob Ross painting. It is a forest cabin at Appleton Cove where we anchored the night before entering Sitka. Beautiful spot.

It was so cold this day, that George thought he would never warm up. But with a little hot chocolate and heat from the oven, he did. I have been the one, who has been cold since we arrived in Alaska, but today was George's turn. I think he may have slept in his watch cap.

This is the view looking back as Teal sailed along in Salisbury Sound at 7 knots while heading into Sitka. Yea for those following seas! It was a grand finish to a wonderful week of only being able to motor. We brought sun to Sitka. And it remained for many many days... much to the surprise of the locals.




Teka, our buddy from KYC, was at the docks to greet us. She looks great and is adjusting to her new neighborhood and job. We look forward to a dinner with her soon.




This is what we call "diamonds on the water". We often see these little sparkles before the sun actually peaks its head out.






We are at the Loading Dock at Thomsen Basin. This is the view out our window, Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. It is really a majestic backdrop to beautiful Sitka.





Meet Earl, our resident seal lion, who many of the locals call a little too friendly. He has a prop-mark (motor propeller) scar around his neck, which shows how close he gets to boats. Here he is on Salmon Derby Weekend tossing a fish into the air while he devours it.


Next episode... the story of this Suzuki motor and the man on his boat.....




luv/jo
(& the captain says hi)

Check out George's blog
www.teallog.blogspot.com

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Ketchikan to Protection Cove May 17 - 19.

It was a great week-long passage. We had only sprinkles in the rain category. Thank you God. The days were sunny, but cold as witnessed by all that snow on the hills.




But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Saturday May 17. Took on fuel and an extra bladder full to make sure we could make the 270+ miles. No fuel would be available via the route we were taking. Topped off the propane bottle, as the oven heat is what keeps us warm on those cold Alaska nights....

We left Ketchikan in a marine layer. and by noon the sun was shining on us and our little Teal. We arrived in Thorne Bay late afternoon. Charming little community.

We tied up at slip 89. A boater heard our calls for the harbor master and told us we probably wouldn't be able to get hold of him cause he doesn't have a hand held and is all over the place. So we were free to take his slip as he was heading into Ketchikan for a few days.

As we were heading to the docks we heard him say, plug into my electricity if you need to. What a nice guy. Thanx Raymond!

We didn't use the electricity, but we did tie up in his slip.

The next morning onto Exchange Cove. First time this season to share an achorage with another boat.






Quiet night in the anchorage.

On to Protection Cove. We saw on the chart, they had floats, so we knew we'd probably tie up at a dock, but much to our surprise as we came around the bend, there was a little fishing village.








We tied up in front of this boat, which was a nostalgic reminder of our friends', Neil and Nancy, former boat.... we looked upon this Harmony as a distant relative to their S/V Harmony.










It was funny to see this big fishing boat, trolling the harbor. But he made quite a few passes inside the cove. With all that water out there, who would think the best fish were in here?


We met two brothers/sailors who live in Wrangel and had come in for a few days.

The following morning they were headed out to accompany some school kids, who were investigating "On Your Knees Cave" in the area. There was a story about it on National Geographics recently. Haven't had a chance to check it out yet.

My notes are back at the boat, and I don't want to get my story out of sequence, so stay tuned for the next episode of our week long trip to Sitka.... and our FAST sail into the final stretch.

luv/jo
(& the captain says hi)

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We're in Sitka

Arrived Sitka, 7pm Friday May 23. Left Ketchikan Saturday morning May 17. Our first stop was Thorne Bay. Cute little ocean side community.... And on from there.

I am composing this at the Highliner Coffee shop in beautiful "downtown Sitka". Do not have my photos downloaded from our passage, and we don't have wireless set up on our boat yet.... Maybe later today.

So trust me, it is a pretty little town - Russian settled village. At the harbor we have eagles and ravens soring and/or shrieking at each other from atop the fish riggings and sail boat masts. Quite the day's entertainment.

With all the holiday activity, including the Annual Salmon Derby, we haven't been able to get much business done until today.... we grocery shopped and did laundry - and spotted the local McDonalds yesterday.

We have Donna from Skookum working on the canvas and upholstery for our boat. We are very impressed with this lady and looking forward to a snappier and dryer boat when she's done.

More to come. Stay tuned for pics.

luv/jo

PS: I was informed by our brother-in-law (one of our most ardent blog readers, I might add, and thank you Stanley) that I didn't mention if we were able to get the Net on our ham radio.

Bob on Counting Coup loaned us some coax that we were able to haul to the top of the mast, with that we could hear talking and if it weren't for interference (either coming from the boats, or just being at the wrong angle or so close to the shore), we could have heard what they were saying. So we kinda know what we have to do. I have been trying, everywhere we are, at 6:30 am when the Net comes on, to listen; but without that extra antenna they are not getting through. Maybe when the canvas work is done, we can go back to trying to figure it out .... maybe just more coax.

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Ham Rendezvous - The Shack at Dora Bay

The Ham Rendezvous was a big success. Six boats show up for a weekend of visiting, eating and exchanging sea stories. I didn't get pictures of everybody, or even good pics of those I got. I am hoping to be redeemed by my fellow hams.... with more pics to follow.









Darlene Minor, Alaska Boaters Net Control. She and Floyd have a warm and cozy home nestled in the trees on the un-named island at Divide Head at he top of Dora Bay. They work hard to live in the Alaska wilderness in comfort. Floyd does the 3-hour skiff tow into Ketchikan for mail and supplies a couple times a month.

Most of the boats had come in May 8 and anchored. They were drifting around a lot. Darlene got permission from her neighbor and they tied and rafted up at her sturdy new dock. That's where they all were when we arrived.



Seascape was tied to the mooring in front of the Shack. We tried to raft to her, but it was too rough.....





(Simon of Seascape)

so we snuck in on the shallow side of the finger... and settled in nicely.















Dave welcoming us aboard Vagrant for cocktail hour the evening of May 9.


Inside Vagrant at cocktail hour.








Debbie sampling the pizza Darlene brought.






Sherry of Dolphin on the left. Debbie on the stairs, and Bob of Counting Coup sitting in the cockpit with the rest of the party.


Eric of Dolphin and Sunnie of Seascape. I think the photographer got bumped by the guy to her right, going for the dip... that would be George.


















Bob Mutter of Counting Coup on the dock.


I didn't get decent pictures of Floyd or Barbara. Maybe in those pictures coming.....










Kim and Eric anchored out where it was deep enough for thier 65' Abyssinia. She is headquarters for their Kayaking enterprise. Their pictures can be seen on their website. Check them out

http://www.kayaktransport.com/meet_the_crew/index.html


Most of the boats left Sunday at 06:00. Bright and early to get across the strait before weather came in.

We left Floyd and Darlene and headed to Kitkun Bay for an anchor out. Little did we know the winds and storm that lay ahead.


We were nestled into this tranquil bay, when the winds came up with a fury. Blew most of Sunday night and all day Monday....gusts 40 to 50 knots. Teal rode out the storm well. George braved the driving rain and pumped out Little TT, the dinghy, twice as she was listing as she swung on her line behind her mother ship.

The winds calmed early in the night and....


....we awoke Tuesday morning to a beautifully sunny warm day and headed across Clarence Strait to Ketchikan.












As I say, a beautiful passage and a great ending to a wonderful weekend.

luv/joB


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Departing Ketchikan for Dora Bay - May 9

We're leaving Ketchikan for a few days to go to the Ham Rendezvous at The Shack at Dora Bay. Here are some high spots of our days in "The First City" aka Ketchikan, Alaska.







The Federal Building. the "tallest and ugliest" building in town. It's pink!








The Downtown Post Office Annex, where we pick up our mail. PO 23597 should you want to send snail mail.

There is really no way you can tell this is a post office til you get inside.

That's a Taxidermy sign hanging out front, and we haven't been able to find any stuffed animals other than those in the window. A phantom taxidermist, I would say. Another case of poor signage, one of our pet peeves.







This is the bus stop in front of the library and museum. We have spent many rainy mornings at 9:22 waiting for the red line to the Mall, Madison Lumber, Murray's Marine, Safeway, the barber, and places too far to walk to.

We ride for 50 cents each cause we're old. But since Ketchikan got new buses from the Federal Government - don't know that whole story - May is "ride the bus free month".





This is TBC, Tongass Business Center, owned by our good friends Marvin and Lonnie Davis. Marvin is "ambassador" of the Ketchikan Yacht Club, who greeted us so warmly last fall when we arrived in this beautiful city. He is actually the KYC treasurer.

TBC is a well appointed office store, with great art supplies and is located on Dock Street across from the bus stop.






I love this clock, and I'm very excited to say I saw bees pollinating a honeysuckle bush in this littletown square. Marvin says there are a lot of bees here, so good to know in light of the disappearing bees throughout the world.

But they didn't show up in the photo. So use your imagination. They were there!





Our grocery store, Tatsuda IGA. "Hometown Proud" is there slogan. They have great steaks and wonderful employees.









This is one of the many totem poles we pass on the way to IGA. I will show you more next blog.







My Captain is snoring and I must get to bed for an early start tomorrow. It's a 40 mile trip and looks like we will have weather.

Stay tuned for more Ketchikan totems, and news from Dora Bay.

luv/jo

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