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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