dogon dory
New member
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
First time ever in a C-Dory
- Thread starter Hunkydory
- Start date
Ok,
In the spirit of this thread:
After cruising our trimaran for 10 years in Southern California and the Northwest from Puget sound to the Klemtu,BC area we got a CD22 'just for So Cal in the winter'
We started cruising our 1991 CD22 in the fall of 1990 by going out to Lake Havasu, then to Cat Harbor, Catalina Island. After that introduction, I said to Nancy, 'lets go to Alaska next summer'. After some resistance she agreed and we outfitted, planned and finally trailered up to the north end of Vancouver Island and launched.
A week later, we arrived in Ketchikan, and started our Alaska exploring. Didn't get to far that year, but we did hit every bar in Ketchikan and got to Neets and Clue Bay.
The following year we launched at Prince Rupert and got as far as Sitka.
I think we were the first people doing long distance cruising in a C-Dory. The only other C-Dorys we saw were local boats in SE. Most folks we met couldn't believe we travelled that far in a 22 ft boat. Oh, we also had our two old cats with us.
After that, life got in the way and we didn't return to Alaska by boat until this year.
We did go to Catalina in the winter, and to Lake Mead and the Calif Delta and lot of other places.
I might write up some of them later.
The big first for us was doing long distance cruising in a C-Dory.
Larry H
In the spirit of this thread:
After cruising our trimaran for 10 years in Southern California and the Northwest from Puget sound to the Klemtu,BC area we got a CD22 'just for So Cal in the winter'
We started cruising our 1991 CD22 in the fall of 1990 by going out to Lake Havasu, then to Cat Harbor, Catalina Island. After that introduction, I said to Nancy, 'lets go to Alaska next summer'. After some resistance she agreed and we outfitted, planned and finally trailered up to the north end of Vancouver Island and launched.
A week later, we arrived in Ketchikan, and started our Alaska exploring. Didn't get to far that year, but we did hit every bar in Ketchikan and got to Neets and Clue Bay.
The following year we launched at Prince Rupert and got as far as Sitka.
I think we were the first people doing long distance cruising in a C-Dory. The only other C-Dorys we saw were local boats in SE. Most folks we met couldn't believe we travelled that far in a 22 ft boat. Oh, we also had our two old cats with us.
After that, life got in the way and we didn't return to Alaska by boat until this year.
We did go to Catalina in the winter, and to Lake Mead and the Calif Delta and lot of other places.
I might write up some of them later.
The big first for us was doing long distance cruising in a C-Dory.
Larry H
Sea Wolf":124iafog said:
Joe
My previous response to your contribution to this thread was in poor taste and lacking much in a reply to a very good honest contribution to this thread. Yours really wasn't a contrary opinion just a good opinion from one well qualified to make it.
Please except my sincere apology.
Jay
Dan---No not pissed off, just me being mildly irritated, but my reaction to your post was overstated and again like my response to Joe undeserved. My apologies to you also.
Enjoyed and wouldn't mind another discussion on prudence, but hopefully not on this thread. Was only looking forward to some good past experiences and story telling when I started it. Could well be that my choice of title has led us off in this direction instead. My reaction was due more to your tone than the substance of what you wrote. you do seem to have a propensity for seeking formats to let the hot air out of some and I'm inclined to enjoy the process more when its me with the pin. :lol: In at least this we may be similar especially when I suspect neither of us feels we have any hot air to expel in the first place. :lol:
Wills try my best for a definition of what a seldom seen place is to me and in relation to what. A bit more of back ground first.
Your normal Alaska living conditions described by you are almost the same as ours here in Wyoming except we've never lived near or in a town of over a thousand people. The present town of Cokeville, Wy has 500. When we moved to Wyoming it was into a isolated one room log cabin with my wife and three young boys ages three to nine. Had electrical power, but no TV or phone. Annual snow fall of 20 feet or more. Over 100 miles one way to work over seldom traveled roads in weather conditions unimaginable to most. That was only the first 6 months. The other 27 years in 15 different homes in Colorado and Wyoming were in larger homes but similar surroundings. The majority of my working life has been spent in extremely hazardous occupations. We have and continue to love our way of life here, but when we switch from our normal life and enter what we define as an adventure it means taking the challenges of our normal living to a higher level. In the past we were willing to endure considerable hardship for the pleasure of seeing and experiencing being in places that due to these hardships were seldom seen by others. Now with the c-dory we can go mostly in comfort and experience the same. The risks have always been there in the past and now with some of the places we've been in the c-dory they might have even increased due to our lack of boating experience. Unlike you and most all others (you will see we really are different) the older we become the higher we have raised the risk factor we are willing to accept. The young have way more to lose. Our Signature Statement by Jack London is one we actually believe and live. Have few regrets in my life so far and I'd rather die a little early than sit in the rocking chair wishing I would have when I could have.
Living in similar surroundings I think our definition of seldom seen places would be much the same and even their relation to what-close. It’s more in the amount of acceptable risk and reason for searching them out us and most would differ. Most need a type of goal like fishing to even go. And the acceptable risk would be more in relation to that then other factors such as scenic beauty, wildlife viewing or the challenge of just making it there. Few want to take the challenge and risk of finding there own special place to anchor and explore, especially by themselves and the number diminishes rapidly in relationship to the distance and hazards that are between them and a known safe harbor. And there in I believe lies the difference in most peoples different definitions of there own seldom seen place as a goal for there cruising destination. Due to this I fully recognize that most others would not have the same definition of a seldom seen place as me. This does not make me superior in any way only different in my personal evaluation of risks and goals. There are others in this who group who are very similar in varying degrees, but it is a minority Going to a majority the closer the safe harbor and the safe harbor answers your question of what its relative to.
All---If any of you think because we make the kind of cruise we do that we think we are superior in anyway to those that don't choose to please believe me if anything the opposite is true. I still have very little real knowledge of seamanship, little ability to work on or change things on my own boat and I'm much lacking in formal education compared to most in this group. The only real knowledge I have to share here is my willingness to risk more and go further than most and the little I have learned from that. The differences causing me to think most would consider me to be if anything the inferior one.
If I have offended anyone with what they considered me projecting a superior attitude please accept my apologies too.
Richard and Cheryle----Really enjoyed your Tennessee River experience. The getting in close in shallow water to the photograph the wildlife is where this remarkable little house boat really excels. Its still one of our most favorite things to do.
Larry H----Sure hope you do write up some of those stories. Since our cruise this year I've re read many in this forum. Makes it even more interesting when you've been where they describe. There's still not a lot of c-dory's up there very far away from the harbors. We only saw one a few miles out of Juneau and one more in Red Bluff Bay being used as a dingy on a yacht.
Jay
Enjoyed and wouldn't mind another discussion on prudence, but hopefully not on this thread. Was only looking forward to some good past experiences and story telling when I started it. Could well be that my choice of title has led us off in this direction instead. My reaction was due more to your tone than the substance of what you wrote. you do seem to have a propensity for seeking formats to let the hot air out of some and I'm inclined to enjoy the process more when its me with the pin. :lol: In at least this we may be similar especially when I suspect neither of us feels we have any hot air to expel in the first place. :lol:
Wills try my best for a definition of what a seldom seen place is to me and in relation to what. A bit more of back ground first.
Your normal Alaska living conditions described by you are almost the same as ours here in Wyoming except we've never lived near or in a town of over a thousand people. The present town of Cokeville, Wy has 500. When we moved to Wyoming it was into a isolated one room log cabin with my wife and three young boys ages three to nine. Had electrical power, but no TV or phone. Annual snow fall of 20 feet or more. Over 100 miles one way to work over seldom traveled roads in weather conditions unimaginable to most. That was only the first 6 months. The other 27 years in 15 different homes in Colorado and Wyoming were in larger homes but similar surroundings. The majority of my working life has been spent in extremely hazardous occupations. We have and continue to love our way of life here, but when we switch from our normal life and enter what we define as an adventure it means taking the challenges of our normal living to a higher level. In the past we were willing to endure considerable hardship for the pleasure of seeing and experiencing being in places that due to these hardships were seldom seen by others. Now with the c-dory we can go mostly in comfort and experience the same. The risks have always been there in the past and now with some of the places we've been in the c-dory they might have even increased due to our lack of boating experience. Unlike you and most all others (you will see we really are different) the older we become the higher we have raised the risk factor we are willing to accept. The young have way more to lose. Our Signature Statement by Jack London is one we actually believe and live. Have few regrets in my life so far and I'd rather die a little early than sit in the rocking chair wishing I would have when I could have.
Living in similar surroundings I think our definition of seldom seen places would be much the same and even their relation to what-close. It’s more in the amount of acceptable risk and reason for searching them out us and most would differ. Most need a type of goal like fishing to even go. And the acceptable risk would be more in relation to that then other factors such as scenic beauty, wildlife viewing or the challenge of just making it there. Few want to take the challenge and risk of finding there own special place to anchor and explore, especially by themselves and the number diminishes rapidly in relationship to the distance and hazards that are between them and a known safe harbor. And there in I believe lies the difference in most peoples different definitions of there own seldom seen place as a goal for there cruising destination. Due to this I fully recognize that most others would not have the same definition of a seldom seen place as me. This does not make me superior in any way only different in my personal evaluation of risks and goals. There are others in this who group who are very similar in varying degrees, but it is a minority Going to a majority the closer the safe harbor and the safe harbor answers your question of what its relative to.
All---If any of you think because we make the kind of cruise we do that we think we are superior in anyway to those that don't choose to please believe me if anything the opposite is true. I still have very little real knowledge of seamanship, little ability to work on or change things on my own boat and I'm much lacking in formal education compared to most in this group. The only real knowledge I have to share here is my willingness to risk more and go further than most and the little I have learned from that. The differences causing me to think most would consider me to be if anything the inferior one.
If I have offended anyone with what they considered me projecting a superior attitude please accept my apologies too.
Richard and Cheryle----Really enjoyed your Tennessee River experience. The getting in close in shallow water to the photograph the wildlife is where this remarkable little house boat really excels. Its still one of our most favorite things to do.
Larry H----Sure hope you do write up some of those stories. Since our cruise this year I've re read many in this forum. Makes it even more interesting when you've been where they describe. There's still not a lot of c-dory's up there very far away from the harbors. We only saw one a few miles out of Juneau and one more in Red Bluff Bay being used as a dingy on a yacht.
Jay
Warren
Can relate to the challenge thing involved and in my younger days pushed hard on the physical stuff, but I’ve always been more a loner and never had much interest in participating or viewing normal or extreme sports except when I played high school football and watched my sons do the same. The challenge and competition for me has always been more about competing and challenging myself and taking in the wonders of nature in the process. Expedition Mountain climbing is a complete group effort and that would take to much of my freedom away, so I really don't relate to either one.
Whom I do feel a close kindred spirit with is the author of “The Curve of Time” Wylie Blanchet and El & Bill, though in no way do I consider myself in there league or ability.
The advantage I have in being able to live the kind of live I do is my Life’s partner and wife of almost 40 years---Jo-Lee. Though physically never able to follow some of her own individual dreams, she is more adventuress and will tolerate much worse conditions without complaint then me. The combination of the two of us in a 22' c-dory boat is much like our everyday life a perfect match and allows both of us to pursue, experience and share our individual dreams of adventure.
It’s easy to go awry in trying to communicate in this Internet form, so I hope I don’t project in my post that Jo-Lee and I are fearless seekers of adventure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike the characters in some of the adventure stories I enjoy reading we both can be very fearful and have at many times been stalked by the night terrors. We just do our best to overcome them, so we can enjoy the overall experience.
Thanks for the recommendation of the book The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw on a different thread am looking forward to it’s arrival and another good read.
Jay
Can relate to the challenge thing involved and in my younger days pushed hard on the physical stuff, but I’ve always been more a loner and never had much interest in participating or viewing normal or extreme sports except when I played high school football and watched my sons do the same. The challenge and competition for me has always been more about competing and challenging myself and taking in the wonders of nature in the process. Expedition Mountain climbing is a complete group effort and that would take to much of my freedom away, so I really don't relate to either one.
Whom I do feel a close kindred spirit with is the author of “The Curve of Time” Wylie Blanchet and El & Bill, though in no way do I consider myself in there league or ability.
The advantage I have in being able to live the kind of live I do is my Life’s partner and wife of almost 40 years---Jo-Lee. Though physically never able to follow some of her own individual dreams, she is more adventuress and will tolerate much worse conditions without complaint then me. The combination of the two of us in a 22' c-dory boat is much like our everyday life a perfect match and allows both of us to pursue, experience and share our individual dreams of adventure.
It’s easy to go awry in trying to communicate in this Internet form, so I hope I don’t project in my post that Jo-Lee and I are fearless seekers of adventure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike the characters in some of the adventure stories I enjoy reading we both can be very fearful and have at many times been stalked by the night terrors. We just do our best to overcome them, so we can enjoy the overall experience.
Thanks for the recommendation of the book The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw on a different thread am looking forward to it’s arrival and another good read.
Jay
Here is another story:
We left Kake headed to Sitka one fine morning. All went well as we pulled into Angoon to refuel. Angoon's dock is inside an inlet with a narrow, rocky, entrance with fast currents.
After negotiating the entrance and the refuelling routine, we returned thru the entrance, crossed Chatham and entered Peril Strait. Nearing the end of Peril Strait we negotiated Sergius Narrows and continued on towards Sitka.
About this time, the fog started. As we travelled, the fog got lower and lower. Finally we could just barely see under the fog, but the channels were narrow so we continued(no radar).
I became aware of a sound that is unmistakable, the slow exhaust pulse of a radial aircraft engine.
The engine sound grew louder and louder and I was wondering where the plane was, after all, it was very foggy.
Suddenly I was looking out the starboard window directly at the pilot!! The Beaver's floats were just clearing the water.
Considering that the plane was flying at about 60 knots, I definitely felt a tightening of my rear area! The plane was not landing, just flying low and disappeared into the fog ahead. I wondered if he knew I was there and what he would have done if he had been 50 ft to his left!!
But, no collision, no problem and we continued on into Sitka.
Larry H
We left Kake headed to Sitka one fine morning. All went well as we pulled into Angoon to refuel. Angoon's dock is inside an inlet with a narrow, rocky, entrance with fast currents.
After negotiating the entrance and the refuelling routine, we returned thru the entrance, crossed Chatham and entered Peril Strait. Nearing the end of Peril Strait we negotiated Sergius Narrows and continued on towards Sitka.
About this time, the fog started. As we travelled, the fog got lower and lower. Finally we could just barely see under the fog, but the channels were narrow so we continued(no radar).
I became aware of a sound that is unmistakable, the slow exhaust pulse of a radial aircraft engine.
The engine sound grew louder and louder and I was wondering where the plane was, after all, it was very foggy.
Suddenly I was looking out the starboard window directly at the pilot!! The Beaver's floats were just clearing the water.
Considering that the plane was flying at about 60 knots, I definitely felt a tightening of my rear area! The plane was not landing, just flying low and disappeared into the fog ahead. I wondered if he knew I was there and what he would have done if he had been 50 ft to his left!!
But, no collision, no problem and we continued on into Sitka.
Larry H
Larry H
Interesting story and well demonstrates just one of the risk of boating in these waters. All the float planes in the Inland Passage area create the need for some extra precautions when entering or exiting many of the harbors. We have had two fairly close calls both caused by our not realizing the danger and giving the watch out that's needed. One was on Atlin Lake just over the ice fields from Juneau and the other at Pelican. Towns and Harbors we have found that take a more diligent view to the air on approach in the northern inland passage are Pelican and Petersburg. Especially Pelican during the fishing season when the fish catch is being flown out and the weather is minimal for flying to say the least. Like your story near Sitka I'm sure there are many near misses there and near many other harbors too.
Warren
Am just about finished with the Hungry Ocean (a very good read) and have ordered "Heart of the Raincoast" by Alexandra Morton and Billy Proctor, and "Tales from the Hidden Basin" by Dick Hammond. Hope they are as good.
Jay
Interesting story and well demonstrates just one of the risk of boating in these waters. All the float planes in the Inland Passage area create the need for some extra precautions when entering or exiting many of the harbors. We have had two fairly close calls both caused by our not realizing the danger and giving the watch out that's needed. One was on Atlin Lake just over the ice fields from Juneau and the other at Pelican. Towns and Harbors we have found that take a more diligent view to the air on approach in the northern inland passage are Pelican and Petersburg. Especially Pelican during the fishing season when the fish catch is being flown out and the weather is minimal for flying to say the least. Like your story near Sitka I'm sure there are many near misses there and near many other harbors too.
Warren
Am just about finished with the Hungry Ocean (a very good read) and have ordered "Heart of the Raincoast" by Alexandra Morton and Billy Proctor, and "Tales from the Hidden Basin" by Dick Hammond. Hope they are as good.
Jay
dogon dory
New member
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
Yellowstone
New member
Jay & Jolee - After our brief visit at Bridge Bay Marina last summer, I presume you outfitted the Hunky Dory with the Perko Fender gizmos I sent you. I returned several times to try and catch the lake trout, and finally was successful. For any C-Dory folks out there who might find themselves on Yellowstone Lake the first two weeks of Sept., the lake trout fishing in West Thumb is excellent. Catch as many as you want - no limit to size or number. Only one catch - the fishing regs require you use barbless hooks limited to one treble hook. Now only a federal bureaucrat could come up with a rationalization for that reg. Why? Lake trout are considered an invasive species and endangering the native cut throat trout, and the NPS has declared war against the laker to the extent that gill nets are set all over the place and hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent to get rid of these "pests". Fisherman are being solicited to catch as many lake trout as you want, but, no barbs on the hooks. A very officious young lady ranger boarded the Far West II, and after a check to see if I had a license to fish, (I did), she began to examine my only pole to see whether the barbs had been filed off. One had a little lump on it (my fading eyesight couldn't see it), but she insisted it was there, but even she realized how absurd this all was becoming and decided it wasn't worth pursuing. But some of the rangers are downright helpful, with sound hints on where and how to catch these illegal aliens.
If you don't mind using down riggers at 60 feet or lead lines, you can really catch lake trout - some are beginning to approach 20 lbs. Beautiful fish and good eating. Having strayed off your original topic, Jay & Jolee, how is this for a C-Dory trip. In 1997 I circumnavigated Montana's Fort Peck Lake (Missouri River impoundment) with the Far West II. At full pool, Fort Peck has about 1,500 miles of shoreline, and it is scenic and remote. Biggest problem is finding gas for that kind of trip. Perhaps we will get together again in Yellowstone this summer?
Yellowstone John
If you don't mind using down riggers at 60 feet or lead lines, you can really catch lake trout - some are beginning to approach 20 lbs. Beautiful fish and good eating. Having strayed off your original topic, Jay & Jolee, how is this for a C-Dory trip. In 1997 I circumnavigated Montana's Fort Peck Lake (Missouri River impoundment) with the Far West II. At full pool, Fort Peck has about 1,500 miles of shoreline, and it is scenic and remote. Biggest problem is finding gas for that kind of trip. Perhaps we will get together again in Yellowstone this summer?
Yellowstone John
dogon dory":19o8gbzt said:
With my own very little knowledge on the subject I found both books interesting, informative and enjoyable though much different in what they were conveying to the reader. The Hungry Ocean being about someone who was at the very pinnacle of their obviously tough and dangerous profession and sharing it with the reader where as The Perfect Storm was more a journalist account of a once in a century storm "The Perfect Storm" and its effect on one boat and crew in particular with a more general effect on the town and people they come from with a few good rescue stories concerning others and the Coast Guard included.
Without Sebastian Junger's account of the The Perfect Storm, I don't believe The Hungry Ocean would ever have been written and I would have missed out on two good books.
Agree on the curry powder. Poor boat crew newbie thought his toes were toast for sure. :lol:
Yellowstone John
Waiting on spring for the Perko Fender gizmos installation. Thanks again for sending them to us. We plan on spending the first two weeks of Sept this year at Bridge Bay, so no doubt will see you there. September is our favorite time of the year in Yellowstone. Have you added a auto pilot after our demo ride?
Did some research on that area of the Missouri River and Fort Peck Lake when planning a RIB trip from Judith Landing at conjunction of the Judith and Missouri Rivers to Fort Peck Lake and back. Fort Peck Lake sure qualifies in my view as a seldom seen place by c-dory. That lake is known for high winds and its remote portions. We hope to cruise it too after retirement.
Jay
Jay -when Terri & I started out (35 yrs ago) we moved into a similar cabin. A 20x24 cabin overlooking a waterfall on a creek next to an old railroad. No power, no phone, no running water. We would put penny’s on the RR tracks for entertainment. Have good memories from the time there.Hunkydory":vkd30wpl said:
We have decided to build another cabin, this time on our farm about a half mile up our creek. It will also overlook a small waterfall in a fairly steep and narrow valley with lots of large mossy trees. It looks like a small version of the Olympic Rain Forest. From the end of October until the second week of February the sun will never shine on the cabin because of the steepness of the canyon walls and the large trees.
It will not have power or phone service but I will develop a spring above the site, so we will have running water. Terri says when it is finished she will spend more time there than in the farm house.
________
Dave
Dave
Hope you have that cabin built in a couple of years. Would love to stop by meet you and Terri and see the cabin and farm on one of our trips through when we're retired.
Have lived in many wonderful places but our time in the cabin which we moved into in a Wyoming January with the young boys was tops in good past family memories.
Jay
Hope you have that cabin built in a couple of years. Would love to stop by meet you and Terri and see the cabin and farm on one of our trips through when we're retired.
Have lived in many wonderful places but our time in the cabin which we moved into in a Wyoming January with the young boys was tops in good past family memories.
Jay
Jay -the cabin should be completed this summer.
You and Jolee don’t have to wait until you retire to stop by. Lots of large out of the way lakes and rivers to explore in Washington and there is Puget Sound and the Pacific.
I am retired but still work over 70 hours a week, however I would take time off if you two were to visit this area.
My contact information is here.
________
Dave
You and Jolee don’t have to wait until you retire to stop by. Lots of large out of the way lakes and rivers to explore in Washington and there is Puget Sound and the Pacific.
I am retired but still work over 70 hours a week, however I would take time off if you two were to visit this area.
My contact information is here.
________
Dave