Petersburg to Juneau

May 23, 2012

After morning walks and final purchases Spirit left the dock at Petersburg at 1014 to minimize the effects of the flood tide in Wrangell Narrows.  A good plan, but upset by the large oncoming tug and barge in the middle of the channel..  Squeezing by on the right, we headed out into Frederick Sound and stopped for a brief fishing test on a pinnacle reputed to be good for halibut.  However, the current was running over one knot and we could not stay in place so we pulled in the fishing lines and headed out Frederick Sound to Cannery Cove in Pybus Bay where we anchored at 1805.  The weather had cleared to sunny and both Patrick and Colin set prawn pots before the evening was too late.

Cannery Cove Prawns

This day’s run brought our total distance to 969.4 nautical miles.

May 24, 2012

The prawn pots yielded on 3 dozen prawns, but they were all good sized, plenty for a meal for 4 people.  We pulled the anchor at 0910 under sunny but cool skies and headed up Stephens Passage to Holkam Bay and the entrance to Tracy Arm.  Spirit and Serena crossed the bar into Tracy Arm at 1430 and since the day was early and the skies were sunny both vessels headed up Tracy Arm to evaluate the ice conditions and make a decision for the next day.  The ice was heavy and we called it quits at “Ice Falls”, with over 12 miles to go in increasingly heavy ice and not enough daylight to go any further and still get back to No Name Cove (also called Tracy Arm Cove) before dark.

Morning in Cannery Cove

Spirit and Serena anchored in the empty cove at 1830 and we all gathered on Spirit for a dinner of garlic prawns and Greek salad provided by McCaffreys and pulled pork (which had been in the slow cooker all day with barbeque sauce), garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and a dessert of ginger cookies that Miriam had baked earlier in the day on the calm crossing of Stephens Passage from Pybus Bay.

Ice Falls, Tracy Arm

Serena leading the way through the ice in Tracy Arm

We finally called it an evening at 2200, still light.  Spirit has now travelled 1032.2 nautilcal miles.

May 25, 2012

After a calm night at anchor we started the engine at 0800 and headed for Endicott Arm under partly cloudy skies.  We were astounded to be able to get to the glacier face with only minor twisting and turning.  After spending several hours listening to the glacier talk and calve we reluctantly returned to No Name Cove for the evening.  The run down Endicott Arm and back was a total of 79 nautical miles but worth it.  After  anchoring at 1830  we enjoyed garlic prawns (from Pybus Bay) and chicken fettuccini alfredo for dinner.  When we arrived back in the cove there were two grizzly bears on the beach which ignored us as we approached the beach in the tender.  By the time sun had set there were four vessels anchored in the roomy cove.

Small Calving at Dawes Glacier

Still one mile from Dawes Glacier

Brown Bears in No Name Cove

The log now shows 1101 nautical miles with 43 left to go before arriving in Juneau.

May 26, 2012

Departing No Name Cove at 0700 in light rain we encountered humpback whales shortly after crossing the bar leaving Tracy Arm. 

We only got a few tail shots before they disappeared.  The last whale was seen as we headed up Gastineau Channel into Juneau Harbor where we docked at the IVF (Intermediate Vessel Facility) at 1230.  We have now covered 1143.6 nautical miles.  After arranging a car rental and going to Costco for provisions we all gathered at the Twisted Fish restaurant for dinner.