2024 SE Alaska cruise with 13 year old granddaughter

We made it to Skagway after an interesting drive down off White Pass through thick fog starting just after, the entering Alaska sign. Boat readied & launched & in a slip for the night. Wrenny & I then drove over to the old town site of Dyea & visited the graveyard, where the 80 some Klondike gold rush minors were killed in an avalanche in 1898, which emptied the 5000 population town down to just a couple hundred in a couple weeks & shifted the town & trail over the mountains to the Yukon River to Skagway.

Weather looks good for the next couple days, so if so, after a walk about Skagway in the morning, we’er planning on heading to Haines tomarrow, then on down the Lynn Canal to the Hoonah area. Don’t know how much writing I’ll be getting in, as I have found my granddaughter fines lots of ways to keep me busy.
 
Nice brings back all kind of memories. Take all kinds of pictures bring them to Yellowstone. Have Wrenny document the trip somebody needs to.
 
Diary with photos by Wrenny. Can be smart phone, with photos and dictation...but for her memory and history, this will be a high point in her life. It will be remembered all of her life.
 
Both Wrenny & I are taking lots of photos & Jolee got her a journal, which she is using. I think she will most likely contribute here some too.

June 2, day two on the water & our first day cruising. We were planning on a stop this morning at Haines, but with a forecast for the Lynn Canal to be exceptionally smooth & with today being Sunday, the library closed there along with the stores, so after a good morning tour walking about Skagway, decided to head for the forest service dock up Port Fredrick 14 miles past Hoonah. We made a quick in & out of Boat Harbor which is located about 60 miles down the Lynn Canal. It has a very narrow entrance with fast running water & somewhat of a challenge even after cruising for 14,000 miles here, so hard to believe, JoLee & I on our first trip up here in 2003, made it in & out of there with practically no boating experience.

Near Swanson Harbor, Wrenny got to see her first Humpback whales & was excited, but scared too. Then 3 miles from our night spot at the old forest service dock three more whales followed by 2 bears with one about 100 yards from the dock. As I’m writing this sitting in the boat at the dock, more whales blowing about a quarter mile away. It’s been a fantastic day for us both & know many more are coming.

122 miles today

Wrenny’s thoughts for the day.

Are whales scary? Oh you would think they are the first time you saw one but I am getting ahead of myself. After we woke up we walked around Skagway for a while it is so pretty. When we got back to the boat we headed out of Skagway passing right by four big cruise ships, how in the world do they float? Dang tourons taking all the internet. Our plan was to stop at Haines but the weather was so good for the Lynn Canal we decided to keep going to Hoonah. We saw seven whales in total, 3 were doing their little feeding thing somewhere in the Lynn Canal and three more were also doing there little feeding thing before we got to Hoonah. Man do they make my heart race, no matter how far away they are. I do not know if it is because how big they are or some other crazy reason my imagination can come up with. When we got to the forest service dock near Hoonah which is where we are sleeping tonight there was two grizzly bears across the water from each other and when I was writing in my journal we saw the seventh whale. Most people do not know this but I am writing a book a couple books actually,I know I probably am not old enough to know what I want to be but every kid has a dream and my dream is to be a author. I love books and reading so much it would be so amazing to be able to write books for people to enjoy, *alright alright enough of your sap story*😂 When I am sitting in the boat or even in bed while I am trying to fall asleep. I come up with ideas for that book then write them down so I don’t forget, just a way to keep myself occupied. I had to get out of bed twice the first night to write the ideas down so the next nights I put my phone (where I write them down) next to the bed for easy access. It is amazing to think about how lucky I am to get to have this experience and crazy to think about just how many kids my age get to do what I am doing, I’ll give you a hint not very many. Today was an amazing day, can’t wait what tomorrow’s adventures have in store for us.
 
Wrenny, both Marie and I thank you for writing your view in the logs. Good on you for wanting to be an author. I believe you will succeed at that. We really appreciate your views. Keep it up, and we will look forward to each day's report!
 
Wrenny, thank you for your writing. Your creative words paint a picture in the minds of those that are not yet able to live your experiences. This is what dreams are made as we learn from you. Keep up the good work. Chase your dream!
 
June 3. Day 3 on the water. 29 miles today & 151 miles total

Normal Alaska weather today with misty rain squalls & foggy clouds clinging to the mountain sides, as we cruised Port Frederick & returned to Hoonah for fuel & the dock at the Marina for the night.

This is Wrenny’s journal for today & Wrenny really appreciates the comments of her writing about this trip.

Have you ever gotten within 30ft of a bear well I have, that’s right folks not an hour after we woke up there was a grizzly bear. This bear was not scared of us at all we even put the bow of the boat on the beach and he didn’t care. That was the closest I have ever been and probably ever will be to a bear. I was safe inside the boat, don’t want to scare the parentals of course 😂. Even though she knows grandpa would never put me in danger my mom still goes into helicopter mom mode when I tell her the experiences from the day. Today was the first day I felt homesick, I was not that homesick but I started reading and that pushed all my worries away. Something about going into another world when my world gets a little tough helps me relax. Maybe it is because I love reading so much. Of course I can only read when the water is calm or I get seasick, anyways soon after that we got to Hoonah we docked and texted everyone because we got cell phone service. Grandpa wanted to call grandma not only because he just wanted to call her but because it was their 56th anniversary. Not to mention I had to call my parents to let them know I was alive, oh I’m just kidding, in reality I had to call them because I wanted to hear their voices. We took a bus to the Cannery. Oh and let me tell you for some reason my imagination thought it was a real Cannery and I was going to have to witness fish getting slaughtered, but it wasn’t anything like that it was a fake cannery to show you how it worked. We walked back to the boat from the Cannery which was about two miles which was fine for me can’t say the same for grandpa. No seriously I don’t know on him, he is a lot older than me, I have young bones. When we got back to the boat we saw a man almost go cer-sploosh in the water between the boat and the dock right when the boat was docking, which was not good he could have gotten smooshed between the boat and the dock. When we were getting ready to go take a shower that same man talked to us he was a really friendly man. Today was a great day, can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s adventures bring.
 
June 4. Day 4 on the water. 70 miles today 221 total

I had planned for today’s run to be Dundas Bay, but the next few days of poor weather cancelled that, so decided to make an early run to Elfin Cove, then continue on to Pelican. A little lumpy out in Cross Sound & Wrenny concerned about her first time on the open ocean. I knew how she felt, as JoLee & mine, first time out Cross Sound was a whole lot spooky for us too.

Between Elfin Cove & Pelican we stopped to check out the 3 sided shelter on Lisianski Strait where Jolee & I have spent many days & nights over the years waiting for the gulf of Alaska waters to be calm enough to venture out. There is wood for the stove & if it works hope to spend a night there after leaving Pelican. With rough weather moving in tonight, we will probably stay at least 3 days here in Pelican & if the near inside waters calm enough down some day trips from here.

Things have really improved here since our last trip in 2022. More like it was back in 2007. The store is open & well stocked, good showers available, the small cafe opened & three different good free internet sources. Tonight I’ll be posting this from the boat in the Marina.

It was good to meet Mike & Melissa with their Rosborough, Time & Tide as we arrived at Pelican. They trailered all the way to Skagway from Florida. C-Brat, Bill Roche had told me to be on the look out for them as their trip had been inspired by our previous ones, which was nice to hear.

Wrenny’ thoughts for the day.
Did you know sea otters eat sea urchins? Today is a short entry considering we didn’t do or see as much as we have in past days but that’s completely fine. Grandpa had to wake up at 4:15 to make the slack tide near Elfin Cove. He tried to let me sleep but I was up by 5:30 because as soon as we hit the waves I was jolted awake. We stopped at Elfin Cove and took a nice walk all the way to the end of the cove. I love that place so much it is like a place right out of my fantasy books. I would sell my soul to live there. After we left Elfin Cove we were on the open ocean and I was probably more scared than I should have been, but in my defense it was my first time on the open ocean in a boat. After that we stopped at Lisianski Strait to look at the cabin with the fire place. I saw a sea lion when I was waiting at the dock for grandpa to use the bathroom. It rained hard while I was helping grandpa untie the boat I got soaking wet. While we were leaving that place we saw a sea otter that was carrying sea urchins, I got a great picture of him. After we got to Pelican we met Mike and Melissa on Time & Tide, which was a crazy coincidence because they were inspired to make the trip,launching from Skagway and exploring Southeast Alaska from reading Grandpa’s trip reports on C-Brats. That is it for today, can’t wait for see what tomorrow’s adventures have in store for us.
 
June 7, 95 miles today & 316 total

June 5 & 6 at Pelican Dock. A steady rain both days, still a very enjoyable 2 days in one of my favorite SE Alaska towns & Wrenny loved the friendly people, boardwalks, library, well just pretty much everything.

Today with a couple good days forecast for the outside waters, we were up at 4:30, knowing we had a lot of places, I wanted to show Wrenny & a short weather window to do it. The sun was shining bright by the time we left Lisianski Strait into the open Gulf of Alaska & grey whales right there to greet us. And more whales on the way through the 4 to 5 foot swells as we made for Mirror Harbor. We entered Mirror Harbor close to the bottom of a -2.5 foot tide, which is the lowest I’ve seen in our many trips there. Even knowing it well, still a challenge getting in & out of the East & West bays. On the dog leg coming out of the East Bay, the moving water carried me slightly off course & I clipped a motor skeg on a rock. I was taking a video of the exit, so have it recorded & will post while in Sitka. After Mirror Harbor, we made for Black Bay, a normally favorite spot for bears, but none there today. Next it was off to the old Chichagof mine site, where 5000 people once lived & now is part of the Yacobi-Chichagof Wilderness Area & Wrenny loves these old historic places. Close by is the intricate entrance to Sister Lake & there, we found a large bear, that repeatedly stood up checking us out. We have ended the day anchored in Falcon Arm off Slocum Arm of Khaz Bay, a place, JoLee & I have anchored at many times, once in a 50 mph gale. Very quiet here tonight with seals & otters about & hoping a bear might show up on the shoreline like so many times in the past. Wrenny was apprehensive of the outside waters, narrow kelp filled passages & whales, but not overly so & more enjoying them, than afraid. We saw 100’s of sea otters & they are her favorites, so overall Wrenny very happy & excited with today’s events

Wrenny’s thoughts,
Are you more scared of the ocean, or what’s in the ocean? We have been staying at Pelican for the past few days(hints to why we have not been writing all that much) Grandpa woke up at 4:30 again,waking me up in the process, when he is wondering around the boat, there is a lot of banging and muttering to himself. Welp, sucks for me, but my brain was already wide awake, despite my best efforts to go back to sleep, I ended up getting up anyway. We got on the open ocean and I was scared, most people don’t realize exactly how powerful and dangerous water can be. I think that is the reason, I probably won’t ever go on a big cruise ship, because I have read so many books about the Titanic and I know that it sunk because of an iceberg, but icebergs are made of water. Out on the ocean we saw a lot of whales and surprisingly, I was not as scared, as I was, the first time, I saw one. We went down a couple of canals and went into some bays and man was grandpa cutting it close with his props and the low tide. We went past 100’s of otters & I love everyone with all their little fluffy playful personalities, grandpa could not decide if he wanted to call them buggers or mutts. After that we went into two lakes, the names are ironic because one was name Anna Lake and one was Sister Lake and my sister’s name is Anna. Before we left Sister Lake, we saw a bear this bear was very curious he kept standing up on his hind legs like “Are they my lunch?” Nah just kidding, he was scared of us once he realized what we were. Now keep in mind that those two lakes were very very remote and hardly ever visited by other people. We didn’t see anyone else today, which is just perfect for my introverted personality, the only time I am not introverted is when I write. We are anchored Falcon Arm of Khazs bay in the Chichagof wilderness. Today was wonderful, can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s adventures have in store for us.
 
Many thanks from us both for all the encouragement for Wrenny to share her thoughts on our trip. She does read all the responses & I get to see the big smile while she’s reading them.

Jay
 
I am enjoying reading about your adventures with both perspectives, young and old. I know that I am not the only C-Brat that is envious of your adventure and somehow wish it was called "SE Alaska cruise with a 63 year old' or something like that. I am sure I am not alone. Savour the experience Wrenny, it is a great adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life.
 
Yes, short walk through most likely waste high or deeper muddy ooze. Remember that little bay in from where we found our Kaboats at all different angles on the rocks, when returning from the hot springs. I got in that mud years ago & about didn’t get out. It does make for a good anchor set.
 
Really enjoying your granddaughters posts. She makes a great travel writer! I'm ready to go back with Bill. Just not before 7am! :o I hope if you already didn't on your drive up, that you take time driving back to enjoy some of the land along the ALCAN highway. Including a stop at Peter and Judy's ranch. Colby
 
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