Cow Bay Marina, Ketchikan and alternators

We put Hartley Bay on our stern, calibrated the auto pilot and pointed the bow towards Prince Rupert and Cow Bay Marina.  We arrived after 85.3 Nautical miles, took on fuel, docked and got some rest.  We would set out the next morning for Ketchikan, Alaska.

We had determined that the weather, while not ideal, would be doable crossing Chatham Sound and Dixon Entrance.  We were right and we did 91 Nautical Miles in about 5.5 hours, got a slip in Bar Harbor Marina and called Customs. Back in the USA!  Our Customs Officer was a very nice (of course) young man named Blake.  He cleared us to be back and we have been here every since.

We had started to have some charging issues with the electronics battery back before Chatterbox Falls.  To make a long story short, the alternator was deemed the culprit and, of course, the diagnosis came on Friday of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
We have finally gotten the replacement part, had it installed and will hopefully be on our merry way tomorrow.  On the glass half full side the weather (until today) has been great.  In a city that considers Seattle to be dry five consecutive days of sunshine is almost unheard of.

During all of these goings on in Ketchikan, Patty flew home and Sue Ellen and friend Marilynn flew in.

Some locals have been giving us great tips for crabbing and halibut fishing and we hope to be eating fresh seafood very soon.

I will leave you with some random shots from Alaska.

David and our buddy Tom, Master Electrician.
Yup, it's the alternator.

Creek Street - Red Light district in days of old.

Till next time.....

Gitga'at

We departed Fjordland Recreation Area at 1030 in the rain passing more and more waterfalls, all brought to life by the heavy rains.

We mad a hard run to Hartley Bay (87.7 nm) and arrived just after the fuel dock closed.  No worries- the dockage was free and they would open for fuel the next morning.

Hartley Bay is a First Nations Community, Home of the Gitga'at  (People of the Cane).  Check out www.gitgaat.net.

They lowered the diesel hose down to us from the top dock

Till next time.....

Fjordland

We left Pruth Bay and traveled to Shearwater Marina to fuel up and continued on to Fjordland Recreation Area in Kynoch Inletwhere we secured the boat using a stern line tied to the shore along with our anchor, since there was very little swing room at the head of the bay.  We were surprised to find we had the whole place to ourselves.

We had a special moment in the Park.  Although there is no photographic evidence of it, we will all remember it. David was on the kayak and Pat and I were on the boat.  We looked out of the window, saw David remaining perfectly still on his kayak and he was surrounded by otters.  Pat counted 28! Their heads were going up and down so much it reminded us of wac-a-mole!

Very cool experience for David and for us.

Till next time......

Hakai Institute

The Hakai Institute welcomes visitors all the while conducting long-term research on the coastal margin of British Columbia.

www.hakai.org

We anchored in Pruth Bay and took the dinghy to the dock.

They maintain a path through the forest that opens up to beach on the Pacific Ocean.

Someone call Tom Hanks!

Me and my girl

Till next time........

Foggy crossing

We left Port Hardy after checking the weather one more time to cross Queen Charlotte Sound and the aptly named Cape Caution.  Foggy mornings generally mean calm seas (not always) and in this case the forecast was in our favor and we took full advantage.

                        

The sun peaked in and out.

We dropped the hook off of Calvert Island at the Hakai Institute and were treated to a lovely sunset.


Till next time....

Chatterbox

It is hard to describe a place like Chatterbox Falls.  I don't think there are enough superlatives to do it justice.  Even the photos can't tell the whole tale.

But we will share them anyway.

One of these days that log will find it's way into the cove.

Coffee and a dinghy ride.  Good Morning!

Till next time....