Alaska 2015 Part 2

April 25, 2015

The weather report is not promising when we arise at 0600 for a 0700 departure.  There is a 996 mb low in the Gulf of Alaska headed our way, with predicted gale force winds both in Johnstone Strait and the Straits of Georgia.  However, the winds are not supposed to arrive until evening, so we head out of False Creek.  There is some rain, and the temperatures are on the cool side, but the seas are calm.

We soon break out into a sunny patch, still no wind, and spot “Seeker” about 4 miles behind us.  The seas remain calm as we approach Pender Harbor, so both crews make the decision to press on to Desolation Sound someplace.

By the time we approach Grief Point, the decision is to head to Gorge Harbour Marina, so we call ahead and reserve dock space.   Both vessels arrive within 10 minutes of each other shortly after 1900, having completed more than 94 nautical miles in 12 hours.

The restaurant was still open, so the Miner’s and the Gill’s had a quick dinner before the restaurant closed at 2030.  Later in the evening the weather forecast still is predicting gale force winds in Johnstone Strait on Sunday, so we will probably remain in Gorge Harbour.

Spirit and Seeker moored in Gorge Harbour Marina

The Floathouse Restaurant and outdoor pool at Gorge Harbour

The good news is that we are now 25% of the way to Ketchikan, having now logged 163 nautical miles.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

As predicted, the wind was out of the SE, gusting to 25 knots in the marina.  After toast and tea on “Seeker”, Mike Miner and Patrick headed out for a run to Whaletown, about 2 miles away.  Patrick soon regretted not staying in better shape as Mike left him in the dust.  About noon light rain began, with the winds continuing to gust across Gorge Harbor. 

The balance of the day was spent doing chores around “Spirit” and watching the news about the earthquake in Nepal.  Patrick was there in the fall of 2012 and was able to compare his photos to the devastation shown on the news.  The Nepalese people are going to need a lot of help rebuilding their country, but may never be able to fully restore the World Heritage sites destroyed by the quake.

Although a return trip to Nepal was still on the bucket list, perhaps it is better to remember how it was before the destruction and deaths of so many people than go back and see the destruction.

The evening ended with a soup and salad dinner aboard “Seeker” while we planned the next few days journeys and reflected on the Nepal earthquake destruction.