With Kristi and Chris off to Africa after the wedding, Dan and Marcia return to Sitka. There we join Cooper has been boat and dog sitting while we headed to the east coast. With just a few stops at Kalanin and Tenakee, we returned to Juneau to drop off Cooper.
With about a week before the Howes were to join in Juneau, we decided to head down Icy Straights to see if we could get a permit into Glacier Bay. On route we stopped at Elfin Cove and Pelican, both ‘boardwalk’ communities. Misunderstanding the rules, we headed for Barlett’s Cove in Glacier Bay thinking we could apply for perimit there….wrong. Dan got a citation and fine for entering Glacier Bay without a permit…although we were granted a two day permit at the same time. Our experience in Glacier Bay was “not worth it” with the distances and regulations.
Back to Juneau for a week with Ed and Kim. Spectacular is the best description…glaciers, whales, hot springs, and great weather. Arriving in Wrangle, we dropped off the Howes and picked up Tim, Kelly and Clair (Tim is one of Marcia’s many brothers}. We started the first day with a jet boat to Anan Bear Preserves where we had a great set of sightings. Not enough we took another boat the same day up the Stikene River to a glacier. While it was a long day, it was the highlight of a week of drizzling weather. Once again we stopped at Kasaan, one our favorite ‘boardwalk’ communities.
At Kentchikan, we changed crew again. Thankfully, we have a watermaker and a great washer and dryer on board. The K’s left us and Mike and Malli Gero were piped aboard with the traditional bottle of champagne. The Gero had planned to visit the Haida Gwaii Canadian National Park after their time with us. Their jumping off point would be Prince Rupert; however, our experience indicated we would rather go north from Ketchikan to Juneau, than south to Rupert…once more travel plans change.
Turned out to be a good bet. The weather cleared and we had a repeat of our week with the Howes except in reverse order. While the cruise ships stay on the inside passage from Ketchikan to Juneau, we now take a more western route along the east side of Prince of Whales Island, up thru Rocky Pass on Kupreanof Island, along the east side of Baranoff, then up Fredricks Sound. Back in Juneau where the cruise ship types are known to ask the local merchants if they ‘take American money’…..kind of like Sarah saying everyone should speak American.
Click on the photo to see the album of this trip
