2016-02 Prepping For Our 8th Alaska Cruise

We've been here in Anacortes all week preparing for another cruise northward. This will be our 8th three-month cruise to AK out of the last 9 years!

It's been fantastic weather week so far....70's and 80's all week with no rain.  Our boat neighbor and fishing celebrity Jay Field (see Jay's latest fish story here) says we always bring the California sun.

Jay always chefs a tasty BBQ.

Jay prepped tomato and Mozzerella with fresh basil,
BBQ prawns and veggies.  Yum!

Ms. Micky, the namesake of Jay
and Micky's new 33-foot North River.
We plan to rendezvous in Sitka this summer.

Alex, Mickey, Jay, Sid and Pat with Hootchy celebrating
8th Alaska Cruise send off dinner

Our prepping includes provisioning at TJ's for frozen goods, Costco for engine oil, auto parts store for ISO 32 hydraulic fluid, North Harbor Diesel for Cummins special coolant, and Starbucks for wifi.  Boat tasks include oil and filter changes, canvass top assembly, and power panel back-light replacement.

Pat is not aboard just yet.  She flies in with our guests, Judge Sid and Ginny Findley on Saturday. Wild Blue is missing the Selene Rendezvous this year, however Alex plans to take in the Saturday seminars by traveling to Roche Harbor.

We're looking forward to another great cruise. If all goes well we shove off early Sunday morning toward Vancouver.  Here's this year's itinerary.

2016 WILD BLUE ALASKA CRUISE ITINERARY

Leg #1A SUN-APR 24 ANACORTES, WA TO SUN-MAY 1 PORT MCNEILL, BC. Northbound BC cruising starting from Anacortes to Vancouver, Comox, Broughton Islands and Port McNeil - 8 days:  To boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Seattle. From boat fly www.PacificCoastal.com from Port McNeill to Vancouver then home. Crew with Alex & Pat: Sid and Virginia Findley.

Leg #1B MON-MAY 2 PORT MCNEILL,BC TO TUE, MAY 12 KETCHIKAN, AK.  Port McNeill, Queen Charlotte Strait anchorages, Shearwater, Kynock Inlet/Culpepper Lagoon, Hartley Bay, Prince Rupert, Dundas Island, Misty Fiords, and Ketchikan – 11 days: To boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Seattle. From boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Ketchikan to home. Crew with Alex & Pat: Roger and Maureen Larsen.

Leg #2 THU-JUN 2 KETCHIKAN, AK TO SUN-JUN 12 SITKA, AK. Cruising from Ketchikan to Sitka with King Salmon fishing and crabbing, anchoring at night. Ketchikan, Nina Cove, Jackson Island, Craig, St Joseph Island, Port MacArthur, Port Walter, Patterson Bay, Hanus Bay to Sitka – 11 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Sitka to home. Crew with Alex only: Roger Larsen, Sid Findley and Sean McNamera.

Leg #3 TUE-JUN 14 SITKA, AK TO FRI-JUN 24 SITKA, AK. Local Sitka cruising with King Salmon fishing, anchoring at night. Cruising and fishing on Baranof Island's South coast including Whale Bay, Sandy Bay, Bryon Bay and Redfish Bay. Rendezvous with new the brand new Ms. Micky operated by Jay & Micky Field – 11 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka round trip. Crew with Alex & Pat: Dick Squire, Denny and Lori Haythorn

Leg #4 SUN-JUN 26 SITKA, AK TO WED-JUL 6 SITKA, AK. Local Sitka cruising with King Salmon fishing, anchoring at night. Cruising and fishing on Baranof Island's South coast including Whale Bay, Sandy Bay, Bryon Bay and Redfish Bay – 11 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka round trip. Crew with Alex only: Willie Benedetti, Joe Cebe, Mike Celentano, Brian Jorgensen.

Leg #5 FRI-JUL 8 SITKA, AK TO MON-JUL18 PETERSBURG, AK. Cruising from Sitka to Kake, AK with salmon and halibut fishing, crabbing and prawning, anchoring at night. Parts of this route will be in open ocean, cruising Baranof Island's South coast including Bryon Bay and Redfish Bay, around Cape Ommaney, up Chatham Strait, fishing east Baranof coast including Port Walter, Deep Cove-Patterson Bay, Gut Bay, Red Bluff Bay, arriving at Petersburg. – 11 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Petersburg, then www.AlaskaAir.com to home. Crew with Alex only, Pat joins on 7/14 at Kake: Gerard and Peggy Ages, Drake Ages, and Hans Tanner.

Leg #6 TUE-JUL 19 PETERSBURG, AK TO WED-JUL 27 CRAIG, AK. Southbound cruising via Rocky Pass and El Capitan Passage with visits to Big John Bay, 3-Mile Arm, Port Beauclerc, Louise Cove, El Capitan cave tour, Sarkar Cove, Singa Island, Warm Chuck Bay and Craig. – 9 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan, then www.flyalaskaseaplanes.com to Kake. Fly www.IslandAirX.com from Klawock to Ketchikan then www.AlaskaAir.com to home. Crew with Alex & Pat: Vince & Marianne Fonte, Chuck and Carolyn French.

Leg #7 FRI-JUL 29 CRAIG, AK TO FRI-AUG 5 KETCHIKAN, AK. Southbound cruising from Craig, AK along the southwest side of Prince of Wales Island crossing Dixon Entrance to Prince Rupert, BC with visits to Hole in the Wall, Soda Bay, Coco Harbor, Rose Inlet, Kaigani Harbor, Hessa Inlet and Ketchikan – 8 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan then www.IslandAirX.com to Craig (Klawock). Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Ketchikan to home. Crew with Alex only: Vince Fonte, Marvin Dee and Lee Hollister.