Monday through Wednesday, May 16th–18th _ Ketchikan
On Monday we prepared to leave at 4:30AM once we had digested the 4AM BC weather Forecast for Dixon Entrance East. Dixon Entrance is the exposed ocean area between BC and Alaska. At times it gets pounded by large seas as a result of strong currents and high winds. Today the wind forecast is 5 to 15 knots and seas are 1 meter (3 foot) seas. Just in case, we time our crossing to be in the center of Dixon Entrance at slack current, which means we need to leave Prince Rupert at 430AM. After about 10 hours we should be in Ketchikan.
It's still dark with a hint of sky light, just enough to see the logs, tree stumps, small timber, kelp patches and crab pot buoys that can pop up in front of the boat. We turn off all the pilot house lights, and dim the displays and instruments, and close the laptop to enhance our night vision. Pat is fully prepared for any excitement, sportingly clad in her thicker morning robe and warmest slippers as off we go.
Cruising north across Prince Rupert Harbour is simple enough as we make sure to dodge the PR airport shuttle boats that approach us on a reciprocal course to ours. We then make our way through winding Venn Passage. Although the Passage is well marked, it's narrow and shallow. Even in broad daylight we pay close attention to our chartplotter, so this mornings darkness is no hindrance to this snaky passage.
Once through Venn we turn northwest up Chatham Sound. The seas are just a bit rolly, about 2 feet or less. So far so good, except for one thing: there is loads of floating obstacles that require us to concentrate on the water ahead. Every so often, we turn the boat, zigzagging through more sea junk, and this keeps us on our toes. By 7:30AM we begin our crossing of the Dixon Entrance, with light rain, calms winds and little seas. It turns out to be a comfortable day for crossing into Alaska , or as our old salt friend Dick Squire would say: “Piece of cake!”
Our route from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan.
Wild Blue leaves Canada in it's wake. Hello USA!
Just about noon or so, Pat gets dressed for the outside. We arrive in Ketchikan at 1PM local time, or 2PM PDT. After tying up at City Dock next to the Selene 55 Spirit, the US Customs Agents board and administer a very pleasant customs experience. The Harbor Staff has all our info from our 2009 stay, and an esay check-in occurs aboard the boat. We relax and then are greeted by Patrick and Miriam, the Spirit crew, who invite us for dinner at the Cape Fox Lodge with the crews from Sea Jay and Raindancer. A nice end to an nice arrival back in the USA.
Mary Island Lighthouse in Revilla Channel. These US light houses are just not maintained like those of Canada.
The Mist Cove on her way to Alaska. This is a moving fishing lodge, complete with sport fishing boats and staff that follow the salmon runs around Alaska. High paying guests arrive by float plane.
Since we'll be in Ketchikan for almost a week, on Tuesday we decide to rent a car. With time, Alex decides to “shop it”. He canvasses all the local car rental companies. Most range from $350 to $400 for the week, all except for Southeast Car Rental. For $250 we get the equivalent of what Juneau calls a “Rent A Wreck”. Wow it's a chore to crank up windows and manually lock each car door. Pat doesn't like waiting in the rain when Alex forgets to manually unlock the passenger door.
Alex began working through the boat's To Do list. The inverter temperature sensor faulted and the spare part was waiting at Frontier Shipping. The inverter was dissembled and the sensor was replaced. The noisy Bosch washer was fixed when three coins were removed from inside the pump impeller housing. An additional AC receptacle was installed in the salon to insure that our guests have enough outlets to charge all their electronic cameras, phones, computers, etc.
Every boat, small and large, has maintenance and repairs. Here two divers prepare to dive the hull of Celebrity Millennium, a cruise ship docked next to the Wild Blue. They examine an area of the starboard hull just below the waterline, between the thruster and stern. Maybe the ship tapped a Glacier Bay iceberg just a bit too hard and the engineers wanted to check it out? They must be pretty concerned to wear wet suits in this 40F degree water. Most everybody these days wears a dry suit. The facial expressions of the divers after their 15-minute sea hunt told the story: they were frigid!
Every boat, small and large, has maintenance and repairs. Here two divers prepare to dive the hull of Celebrity Millennium, a cruise ship docked next to the Wild Blue. They examine an area of the starboard hull just below the waterline, between the thruster and stern. Maybe the ship tapped a Glacier Bay iceberg just a bit too hard and the engineers wanted to check it out? They must be pretty concerned to wear wet suits in this 40F degree water. Most everybody these days wears a dry suit. The facial expressions of the divers after their 15-minute sea hunt told the story: they were frigid!
Celebrity Millennium divers prepare to dive the hull.
These wet suits are better suited for the Caribbean!
We've toured the City, saw the tallest totem poles, visited the hydroelectric power station, dined out, and visited the Walmart. This helps prepare ourselves for integration back into the SLO life. The cruise itinerary is below. See you after the horse, house, book club and wedding breaks. Alex and Pat.
2011 M/V WILD BLUE ALASKA CRUISE
1. MON, MAY 2 SIDNEY, BC TO TUE, MAY 10 PORT MCNEIL, BC. This leg is complete.
2. WED, MAY 11 PORT MCNEIL, BC TO SUN, MAY 22 KETCHIKAN, AK. This leg is complete.
3. SUN, JUNE 12 KETCHIKAN, AK TO SUN, JUNE 19 PETERSBURG, AK.
Alaska Northbound: Ketchikan, Thorne Bay/Snug Anchorage, Coffman Cove, Roosevelt Harbor, Wrangell, Butterworth Island Bay, Petersburg - 8 days.
4. MON, JUNE 20 PETERSBURG, AK TO MON, JUNE 27 JUNEAU, AK. Alaska Northbound: Note: Call Juneau IVF 907-321-0429 to verify June 26-28 reservation. Petersburg, Ideal Cove or Thomas Bay, Five Fingers Island-Windfall Cove, Tracy Arm Cove-Dawes Glacier, Tracy Arm Cove-Sawyer Glaciers, Juneau, Auke Bay - 8 days
5. TUE, JUNE 28 JUNEAU, AK TO TUE, JULY 5 SITKA, AK. Alaska Westbound: Juneau, Funter Bay, Tenakee Springs, Peril Strait, Sitka. - 8 days (4 cruising, 4 in Sitka).
6. THU, JULY 7 SITKA, AK TO FRI, JULY 15 CRAIG, AK. Alaska Baronof Island Southbound: Sitka, Kliuchevoi Bay-Goddard Hot Springs, Herring Bay, Scow Bay, Still Harbor, Reannes Relief, Port Alexander, Egg Harbor, Craig - 8 days, remote cruising with water limitations.
7. SUN, JULY 17 CRAIG, AK TO WED, JULY 27 KETCHIKAN, AK. Alaska clockwise around Prince of Wales Island: Craig, Cyrus Cove-Orr Island, El Capitan Cave-Hamilton Island Cove, Point Baker, Red Bay, Meyers-Chuck, Ketchikan - 11 days.
8. FRI, JULY 29 KETCHIKAN, AK TO WED, AUG 5 PRINCE RUPERT, BC.
Alaska-BC Southbound: Ketchikan, Pond Bay-Duke Island, Morse
Cove-Judd Harbor, Foggy Bay-Very Inlet, Nakat Harbor, Port Tongrass, Prince Rupert - 8 Days.
9. FRI, AUG 7 PRINCE RUPERT, BC TO TUE, AUG 16 TO SHEARWATER, BC.
British Columbia Southbound: Prince Rupert, Captain Cove, Ire Inlet, Emily Carr Inlet, Mary Cove, various northern BC ports, Shearwater - 10 Days.
10. THU, AUG 18 SHEARWATER, BC TO SAT, AUG 27 PORT MCNEIL, BC.
Central BC Southbound: Shearwater, various Central BC ports, Port McNeil - 10 days.
11. MON, AUG 29 PORT MCNEIL, BC TO FRI, SEP 9 ANACORTES, WA.
Southern BC Southbound: Port NcNeil, various Broughton Island marinas and anchorages, various Desolation Sound anchorages, Princess Louisa Inlet, Vancouver, Anacortes - 11 days.
Great cruises just like a dream come true.
ReplyDeleteGreat and awesome video, I really love watching on it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKetchikan Fishing Lodge