It has been a few days since the last time I posted something on the blog. Reason being my computer is goofing off!!!
However today I have reasonable luck so will post a few pictures.
In Losinj we docked on the town wall, and no sooner tied up an…
Losinj and Rovinj
Losinj and Rovinj
It has been a few days since the last time I posted something on the blog. Reason being my computer is goofing off!!!However today I have reasonable luck so will post a few pictures.In Losinj we docked on the town wall, and no sooner tied up and the lo…
Deliverance or Deliver Us? to Demopolis
For the first time in several days we woke up to sunshine! It looks like a good day to head into the remote parts of Alabama.
We cast off the lines around 7 and got underway. The wind was out of the NW between 10 and 15 mph making for a 1′ to 2′ chop …
Deliverance or Deliver Us? to Demopolis
For the first time in several days we woke up to sunshine! It looks like a good day to head into the remote parts of Alabama. We cast off the lines around 7 and got underway. The wind was out of the NW between 10 and 15 mph making for a 1′ to 2′ chop o…
May 15 – Deltaville, VA
Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Christopher McCandless
We spent a quiet day hanging around the marina, except for one short trip to Stingray Point to check out the lighthouse. It’s an exact full-scale replica of the original Stingray Point screwpile lighthouse built in 1853 that stood watch over the shoal at Stingray Point, which separates the Rappahannock and Piankatank Rivers. The light remained in service until 1965, when it was replaced with a skeleton tower erected on the old foundation.
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK – Eye To Eye
The story behind EYE TO EYE This is the wildlife image that holds the most meaning for me of all the photographs I have taken over the past ten years. I have it hanging in my Read More …
Pruth Bay to Ketchikan
May 12, 2016 – Pruth Bay to Bottleneck Inlet
The sun was shining and the wind had shifted to NE overnight. We pulled the anchor from the good holding and headed up Meay Channel, across Hakai Pass and into Ward Passage. Exiting into Fitz Hugh Sound via Nalau Passage we bucked a 1.5 to 2.0 knot ebb current all the way to Lama Passasge. Entering Lama Passage the current was with us and we quickly passed New Bella Bella, bypassing Shearwater. We photographed Dryad Point lighthouse on the way, even though we have seen it many times. Heading into Seaforth Channel we passed Ivory Point Light at 1505 and entered Milbanke Sound, which only had a low westerly swell.
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| Catch up photo of dandelion at Shoal Bay |
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| Shoal Bay was full of photo ops. |
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| Eagle outside of Port McNeill |
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| Dryad Point Lighthouse |
As we passed Vancouver Rock the winds built from the NE to more than 30 knots. At 1615 we turned the corner into Finlayson Channel and headed for Bottleneck Inlet, our destination for the evening. We passed through bands of wind to 32 knots, but found a calm patch just outside the entrance to Bottleneck Inlet. Pulling the Grady White alongside we entered the narrow and shallow entrance and anchored in 32 feet of water just past the only other boat. There was no wind inside and glassy water.
We watched the season finale of “Big Bang Theory”, since the TV satellite dish was still picking up local Seattle stations. Miriam had prepared some stuffed bell peppers for dinner and we enjoyed them in the 70 degree temperatures in the inlet.
May 13, 2016 – Bottleneck Inlet to Lowe Inlet
We pulled the anchor from the sticky mud in Bottleneck Inlet at 0558, following the only other boat out of the inlet and headed for Hiekish Narrows to minimize the effects of the ebb tide. The currents can run up to 4 knots on large tides, which occur this time of year.
As we entered Princess Royal Channel we decided, based on the morning weather forecast, to bypass our traditional stop in Khutze Inlet, giving up the crabbing, and instead pushing north to hopefully cross Dixon Entrance on Sunday before a predicted SE gale comes in on Monday afternoon.
Heading up Graham Reach and into Butedale Passage we diverted slightly to see the state of Butedale. Every year more of the old cannery buildings fall in and the docks are now reputedly closed to visitors. We did see that an aluminum gangway is now back in place between the docks and shore.
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| Butedale continues to deteriorate |
Leaving Butedale behind we continued into Fraser Reach. The calm water was covered in streaks of yellow pollen, reminding us of our 2010 trip, the first on the Selene. The snow on the hills was nearly gone and there were only the larger waterfalls lining the shores, not the constant waterfalls we saw in 2012.
Rounding Kingcome Point at noon we entered MacKay Reach and finally picked up a small boost from the ebb tide, and the wind picked up from the north to 25 knots. Exiting Princess Royal Channel and MacKay Reach we entered Wright Sound at Point Cumming and we set a direct course for the entrance to Grenville Channel. The gusty northerly winds were replaced by constant NE winds at 10-15 knots. Since we departed Bottleneck Inlet this morning the only other vessels we have seen are “Aquila”, who was also anchored in Bottleneck, and one water taxi heading to Hartley Bay.
Spirit headed up Grenville Channel and after some discussion, the decision was made to stop at Lowe Inlet and anchor in Nettle Basin. There was one other boat anchored, “Seaducktress”, from Nordlund, Washington. We had met Peter and Glenda for the first time in 2007 and then occasionally since then. Miriam baked an apple pie and we all gathered on Spirit for dessert with pie and ice cream and a time of catching up. By the time twilight arrived there were five boats anchored in Nettle Basin. The evening ended early since both vessels plan on getting underway at 0500.
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| First Brown Bear on the beach |
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| Verney Falls in Nettle Basin |
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| Our view up Grenville Channel |
May 14, 2016 – Lowe Inlet to Foggy Bay
Spirit did not make the 0500 departure, although Seaducktress was already gone at 0500. We departed Lowe Inlet at 0550 as the sun was rising and headed back into Grenville Channel, riding the flood tide towards the top of Grenville. The winds were calm and the skies mostly sunny as we powered towards Foggy Bay, some 104 nautical miles away.
Exiting Grenville Channel, Spirit proceeded up Arthur Passage and turning slightly west headed into Malacca Passage past Lawyer Islands and Client Reefs out into Chatham Sound. There was now a low swell left over from last night’s winds and rippled wind chop on top. Spirit is part of a parade of US boats headed for Ketchikan.
At the top of Grenville we regained cell phone coverage and checked in with US Customs in Ketchikan, receiving permission to stop in Foggy Bay this evening.
The further we got out into Chatham Sound the larger the swells became, growing to 4-6 feet, but very short period. Since there was very little wind, even though Spirit pitched a lot the windows stayed dry and few waves came over the bow. The closer we got to Green Island and Holliday Passage the calmer it got and as we passed Holliday Island light at 1527 the seas became glassy smooth. Still riding a favorable current we set a direct course for Tree Point, in Alaska.
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| Green Island Lighthouse – last view of BC |
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| Tree Point Light, First landfall in Alaska |
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| “ Totems in Foggy Bay |
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| Spirit anchored with Seducktress in Foggy Bay |
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| Sun setting over our last day of good weather |
Spirit crossed the US/Canada boundary at 1506 AKDT (we set the clocks back one hour for Alaska) and at 1720 we were anchored in Foggy Bay. We enjoyed the warm sunny weather and watched the sun set through the gap in the trees looking out into Dixon Entrance. We have covered 103 nautical miles today and 342 nautical miles since leaving Port McNeill 4 days ago.
May 15, 2016 – Foggy Bay to Ketchikan
With daylight time it was light by 0330, but we waited until 0550 to leave Foggy Bay. The conditions had certainly changed since the previous evening. It was overcast, the wind was blowing 15-20 and there were 4-6 foot waves on our quarter as we headed up Revillagigedo Channel past Mary Island and Hog Rocks towards Ketchikan. The seas calmed down, but the wind persisted as Spirit approached Tongass Narrows. We were cleared into the US by phone with our Nexus cards and then stopped at Petromarine for fuel. Fuel is basically the same price as in Anacortes.
Topping off the fuel tanks we called for a moorage assignment and by 1115 we were tied up in Bar Harbor in the middle of a rain squall, a typical Ketchikan summer day.
Spirit has logged 718 nautical miles since Anacortes and 380 nautical miles since Port McNeill on May 11.
We will stay in Ketchikan until the gale passes and we get our spare parts from Seattle. We plan on departing either May 18 or May 19.
To Prevost Harbor State Marine Park
Note: I am behind on the blog. Our daughter and guest blogger Katie Baxter is posting for a few days, while I catch up. Don (Continued…)
Ketchikan and a Flock of Ducks
We arrived at Bar Harbor at 10 AM yesterday after getting an early start from Foggy Bay. Since we were arriving from Canada, we obtained permission while still in BC from the CBP (Customs & Border Patrol) to anchor in Foggy Bay before clearing customs in Ketchikan.
For the first time, we experienced the seas created by significant outflow winds. The winds are the result of a high pressure in the interior and a lower pressure offshore. The winds funnel down the channels, the Skeena and Portland Inlet, towards the sea. We had 3 foot moderate chop for the 30 plus miles from the outlet of the Skeena south of Prince Rupert, the length of Chatham Sound, until we cleared the NE corner of Dundas Island where 
Portland Inlet meets Dixon Entrance. The winds were steady in the 15 to 25 range with occasional gusts to 30 knots. The salt spray added to the crust of salt we had accumulated along the way.
Once past Dundas, the seas were quite good and we enjoyed a smooth ride into Foggy Bay where we were the only boat anchored for the night. The sun was so bright we had to draw the blinds on many windows to keep the interior of the boat from getting any warmer than it did (upper 70’s).
Once in Ketchikan, we started tackling our chore list in order to get out of town quickly. The weather forecast had a strong front moving in Monday night through at least Tuesday so we wanted to leave ahead of it on Monday morning.
Later Saturday night our cousin boat Shearwater (David Cohn) arrived having left Prince Rupert that morning. On Sunday another Diesel Duck, Seaducktress, owned by Peter Geerlofs joined us making a flock of Seahorse Marine Diesel Ducks at Bar Harbor.
From here we’ll do a partial loop around Revillagigedo Island via Behm Canal visiting some of our favorite anchorages and dropping the crab and prawn traps when we can. We hope start enjoying some fresh Alaskan seafood as we do. After that we’ll start heading towards Sitka via Petersburg.
May 14 – Deltaville, VA
Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson
We woke up to a beautiful day, a perfect day to explore Deltaville and enjoy their Seafood Festival. The festival was small but the food was wonderful. We shared a bowl of crab soup and a crab potpie…both were full of crab and were delicious.
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