Alaska 2014 - Petersburg Interlude

June 4, 2014

Our planned maintenance day in Petersburg took several interesting twists.  There are a group of Kadey Krogen yachts in the three harbors in Petersburg that we have met in prior years, everywhere from Swanson Harbor in 2007 to a Krogen rendezvous in Craig, Alaska in 2010.  At the Craig event in 2010 we were the lone Selene surrounded by a dozen Krogens and their Krogenite crews.

Spirit at the new North Harbor docks in Petersburg

This year, in Petersburg, many of the Krogen yachts are here for the book signing event at the Sing Lee Alley bookstore for Rolynn Anderson’s new book.  Steve and Rolynn Anderson are moored right across the dock from us on their Krogen 42 “Intrepid” and we met them in 2012.  We will go to the book signing event on June 5, 2014, so have decided to stay until Friday morning.

Some public art in Petersburg

The fishermen's memorial outside the "Sons of Norway" hall

While working on “Spirit” during the morning, two children, a boy and girl, were on the docks with their fishing rods and buckets, jigging for herring and other fish.  There were also some men jigging for herring close by, rather than buying bait.  Herring are plentiful and easy to catch, even from the docks, and one of the best locations is just off the North Harbor docks.

Patrick happened to be watching the children fish when the girl stumbled and did a slow roll into the water.  Fortunately she was wearing her life vest, but the current along the docks in North Harbor was swift.  Patrick rushed out of Spirit and grabbed her arm, while one of the other men ran over and helped.  The two of them lifted the girl back onto the docks, which are higher than the older docks.  The girl was wet, a little scraped up from the wood edges of the dock, but otherwise unharmed.  We thought it appropriate that the girl was wearing a “kids don’t float” life jacket.  Miriam had a towel ready and she helped the girl, whose name we never found out, dry off.  Later that day, her dad stopped by Spirit and thanked us for helping.  The dad was part of the crew of “Kestrel”, moored at the end of the North Harbor, only 75 feet away.  Kestrel is an Alaska fisheries enforcement vessel.  Not long after the incident, the two kids showed back up in dry clothes and fished the rest of the day.  Life jackets for kids (and adults) are important, especially with the new higher docks!

Kids fishing on the dock, one of these fell in!

By afternoon, the sun started peeking out and the cool morning temperatures started to climb.  We attended a late afternoon gathering in South Harbor, a BYOB and BYOA event on a new Krogen 48, and then went to Papa Bear’s Pizza, almost the last remaining place in Petersburg for an evening meal out.  The 8 couples were all people we have met on earlier cruises up here.

Some of the BYOB attendees on the Krogen 48 "Salty Dawg"

June 5, 2014

The skies remained mostly sunny, but cool in the morning, and even in the afternoon the temperatures were on the cool side when the sun briefly disappeared behind a cloud.  We spent the morning working on maintenance projects and laundry.  In the afternoon we attended the “book signing event” at the Sing Lee Alley Bookstore, where Rolynn Anderson, from the Krogen 42 “Intrepid” was signing copies of her newest book “Lie Catchers”.  This latest novel is set in the town of Petersburg, so it was really appropriate to have the book signing event here.  In late afternoon, we, the Krogenites, and some De Fever trawler folks all went to the Elks Club for fish tacos.  The fish tacos were good, but the conversations with the group were better, and after an enjoyable event in the crowded Elks club dining room we all dispersed, with Patrick & Miriam ending up on the DeFever 49 “Adventures”, which will be spending the winter in Petersburg.  At 2230, still light, we finally returned to Spirit and began preparations for an early departure from Petersburg.

June 6, 2014

Today is “D Day”, with clear blue skies as we prepare to depart on the morning ebb tide and head out into Frederick Sound, past the lower end of Stephens Passage and across Chatham Strait to the east side of Baranof Island.  We will decide later which inlet or bay will be our destination for the evening.

We have had a great time in Petersburg and can appreciate why three of the boat crews we reconnected with have decided to relocate to this delightful town.  We will be out of cell phone and internet for the next few days as we fish our way the 160 nautical miles to Sitka.