Petersburg to Craig

Ben & Connie Dancing Under the Stars in Sarkar Cove

Miriam and Patrick dancing under the stars

Spirit at Port Protection, State float

Patrick Kayaking at Port Protection

The main store and float at Port Protection

More Kayaking Photos

Fuel dock at Peterburg that Wilmer Oines Used to Run

Black bear in El Capitan Passage

Enjoying the sun at Port Protection

Ben & Connie

Our Grilled Salmon Dinner
on the sun deck.

Part of El Capitan Passage does not look like 70 feet wide, but it is!!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The voyage continues to the west coast of Prince of Wales Island and the town of Craig.

We decided to ride the morning flood tide through Wrangell Narrows so we would have plenty of options for a port or anchorage this evening. There was more traffic in the narrows than we have ever seen, but we hit the slack water at mid-point perfectly and proceeded in calm weather west in Sumner Strait, now riding the ebb tide out, which increased our speed by nearly 2 knots. We pulled into Port Protection and found space at the State Float. After a trip to the small store, and negotiating a price for a 5 pound Coho salmon for dinner, we set the crab pots and then went kayaking around the bay in the sunshine.

Dinner was grilled Coho Salmon, served on the sundeck, now that the kayaks and the tender were launched, as we watched the sun set over Summer Strait.

We checked the crab pots, but no joy. We think there are too many otters, hence the name Sea Otter Sound just a few miles south.

The next morning, Sunday, July 18, 2010, we had a lazy morning, paddled around the bay, stowed the water toys and left about 1100 to ensure we enter El Capitan Passage shortly after low slack. The channel is scary, only 70 feet wide and dredged to 7-8 feet at zero tide in the shallowest places, but at least we can see all the obstructions. We slowed down to 5 knots, called on the VHF to warn oncoming traffic and headed into the passage.

The trip turned out to be spectacular, and keeping in mid-channel was not difficult, since there was little wind, minimal current and sunny skies. Ben and Connie spent most of the passage on the bow seat in the sunshine drinking in the scenery, which included one black bear on shore. After several hours we were out in the deeper sections of El Capitan Passage, where we checked out Devilfish Bay before heading to Sarkar Cove for the evening. The tender was launched as soon as we arrived, and serious explorations took place before a twilight dinner of grilled burgers (we can't be gourmet all the time!!) while we watched the sun set in the northwest. Before dinner, we motored to the head of the cove in the tender and part way up the creek watching the eagles feed as dusk approached. After dinner, dancing commenced on the aft deck, but we discovered that none of us was particularly good so we adjourned to watch several more episodes of "The Big Bang Theory".

Monday, July 19, 2010

After a peaceful night at anchor, we made a frittata for breakfast and then we headed the rest of the way down El Capitan Passage, wound our way through the Harmony Islands, and eventually docked at North Harbor in Craig under mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. Along the way we were able to see numerous humpback whales and dozens of sea otters. The transient dock is fine, but we are the only Selene. The rest of the cruisers are all Krogens, ranging in size from a 58 footer to several 39 footers. Patrick walked up to the medical center and had some stiches removed and discovered a painting done by J. Craig Thorpe decorating the clinic office. We have known Craig for many years, and we now attend the same church in Bellevue.

Dinner this evening is at "Ruth Ann's" in Craig. They were out of oysters and spinach salad, but we made out OK. Back to the boat for after dinner drinks.

We are now at 2684 nautical miles on day 80 of our cruise.