Southeast Alaska 2012 with Jay, Jo-Lee & the Hunkydory

Jay,

Please continue with your ramblings. They are fun to read and I also try to visualize your trip through your words.
Good job and sounds like a great trip.
Your patience with the Wallas was amazing. It would have been ocean bottom trash if it were me.
Be safe on the remainder of your trip.

Jack on High Tide
 
Jay,
I loved the part about the bear and the hunters. I bet you gave the bear the ole hunters nearby signal. :wink: I hope the bear lives on so lots of folks can enjoy seeing them. They should make stuffed fake ones so people could just order the ones they saw for the wall or the den. Wishing for dry and warmer conditions with just rollers and no hard breaking stuff to deal with. There are a lot of people living your adventure through your posts. How about you write a book someday? Thanks for sharing,safe travels.
D&G
 
Truly enjoying the narrative, Jay. It's fun to "tune in" each day to see what new experiences you offer. Glad to hear the bear viewing has been good - you two take care out there!

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
 
Jay, I too enjoy reading of your adventures. Your writings are captivating and make it easy to visualize your experiences....(although I'm certain that what you are seeing and experiencing can only be fully appreciated by being there).
Like you, there are many times when I wish that I could share experiences with my dad, but I always have the feeling that he knows and sees all that I do.
 
I don't know if you plan on doing this portion of the coast again in the near future. But if the weather and sea conditions are good, going out around Yakobi Island then staying a couple of miles offshore can present you with and incredible view of the mountains and coastline. We made landfall in that area some 35 years ago after a lengthy crossing of the gulf from Dutch Harbor. The weather was perfect, the views incredible, plus we had a fair wind right on down into Sitka Sound. I'm assuming you will be heading south from Sitka to Cape Edgecumbe, hope you take the time to explore some of the inlets along that coast as they are quite nice. I would also suggest Coronation Is. at the bottom end of Kuiu Is. as another place to explore especially if it's clear and you take the time to hike up to one of the high spots on the island.
 
I'm enjoying your trip from here stuck working. Nice pictures of the all the bears. I can't wait till I can make a trip like that. The picture of the snow on the dock does look a little cold. Looking forward to the next installment. Stay safe.
 
Being boatless for a while and rarely posting, I do check the web-site everyday. I enjoy reading about Hunky Dory, Wild Blue and others .
Jay, use as many words as you need to describe your experience. This is the only way I can enjoy boating right now. Continue to have a safe trip and keep posting.

Allan
 
Thanks for all the comments.  I very much enjoy reading your comments  to see what you find interesting about about this adventure we'er on.  

 D D, I find it a real challenge just writing these post let alone a book, but I do take that as a compliment & thank  you for it.

AJF,  I agree having been a few miles off the Chichagof & Baranof Island coast in good weather it is beautiful.  We have been on the outside coast of Chichagof & Baranof  Islands all the way down to Cape Ommaney  & Port Alexander except for the outside of Krusnof  Island  & Cape  Edgecombe.  Through that area we took the inside route from Salisbury Sound to Sitka Sound.  I would not do the outside waters between Sitka Sound & Cape Ommeney again in a 22 CD & wouldn't recommend it to anyone else either.  When we leave Sitka it will be back to the north & Sergis Narrows to Peril & Chatham Strait to go down the East side of Baranof Island & back to Port Alexander.  There if conditions warrant may go between Cape Decision & Coronation Island to Sumner Strait.  Perhaps in July we will make it back to the Yakobi,  Chichagof outside area.  For now I will let other more experienced sailors linger, cove hopping down the south outside of the Baranof Island coast in a CD22.

We are enjoying our stay here in Sitka much more this year than in 2010.  Have been here now 2 days & thinking at least three more.  Hooked up to power on the dock today for the first time in Alaska.  It's only $5 a  day here & in Pelican it would have been $15.  

There are about 30 eagles hanging around the docks due to fisherman cleaning their fish on their boats at the dock & they are really putting on a show competing for the goodies tossed over.  One of the C-Brats had posted a photo with eagles within a couple feet of people & here it's the same.  Also a huge sea lion they call Hershel,  a giant that competes with the eagles.  One of the fisherman gave us some halibut cheek cuts this morning & they went directly to the pan & then our stomachs & were they ever delicious.

Talked to a fish & game biologist today who's been here for 18 years & he said this is the wet & coldest spring he has seen yet by far.  Said its been more like November than May & here we came early reading that normally April & May are the driest months.  At least we're set for the cold & wet now & still are having a great time.  Checking the forecast it's rain for another week  pretty much every day & has been only two days without rain in all of May.

It was 54 miles down to Sitka & 876 total

Jay
 
I've been fairly lucky with trips down the outside from Sitka to Cape Ommaney. Though I've had one that definitely was a test of skills and nerves especially going around Cape Ommaney, was very happy to get into Port Alexander on that trip. Will be curious to know if the fish buyer/store/fuel barge is in Port Alexander when you get there. I've heard rumors over the last couple of years that it might not come back. I would have to agree that May's weather has not been that great even here in the interior compared to other years.
 
If we'er talking cruising down the east Baranof coast in a very capable 30+ foot sailboat I wouldn't hesitate to cruise that beautiful remote area either, especially To access Whale Bay, but like I said not again in a CD 22, though I think a skilled & patient Captain would likely be fine.  I've pressed my luck considerably on past cruises here & though up for the adventure am now more willing to relax & enjoy without pushing the margins to far.

The barge was there in 2010 & hope it's there again this year.  That will determine how soon from there we have to make for a town with fuel.

Jay 
 
Jay-

Having fun reading your adventures!

I don't know if he's still there or not, but a few years ago one of our C-Brats was busy managing one of the hotels there in Sitka.

If he's still there, maybe one of out members knows him, or you can find him on the Brat Map, or member list, and get introduced and make a local friend.

Keep up the fun!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Sea Wolf":1f9zrv71 said:
Jay-
I don't know if he's still there or not, but a few years ago one of our C-Brats was busy managing one of the hotels there in Sitka.
If he's still there, maybe one of out members knows him, or you can find him on the Brat Map, or member list, and get introduced and make a local friend.
Keep up the fun!
Joe. :teeth :thup
Click to expand...

Joe, that was Chivita and if I'm not mistaken he is back in Washington State, but you can always send him a PM.
 
Hi Jay,

I took the time over the last couple evenings to read through all your posts and now look forward to following along.

I know you do significant planning for these trips. Reading about the Moki having a problem and having to paddle to get back got me to thinking. Probably a low risk but with fast changing weather and delays causing adverse currents, it might not be possible to get back by paddling for a very significant time. Do you have a plan of action to follow in that case if you can not communicate with Jo-Lee?

I could have the same problem if I paddle my kayak away from the C-Dory and can not get back when expected and can not reach Karen by VHF or cell phone. Much less risk for us since I am not going to paddle as far as if I had a motor (wish I did), unlikely that VHF/cell would not work, and outside help generally available if necessary.

Glad you guys are having fun and I hope the weather improves for the rest of the trip.

Steve
 
It's good to hear from you, Steve.  Four quick years have passed since the good times of the 08 gathering in Yellowstone.  Good to see your following our adventure now.  Put Lake Powell on your consideration list.  Would be great to see Karen & You again.

It's not very often that I take the Mokai out of VHF range of JoLee & that's generally going up rivers, so not much of a problem for the return.  In the past on the boat up here had the Sat phone.  This year with the SPOT decided to leave the phone behind.   In the Mokai  have the shotgun, GPS, VHF , bearspray & carry food & drink & have warm waterproof cloths, so extended stay maybe uncomfortable, but easily doable.  With 44 years of marriage & being together 2years before that,  she's fairly accustomed to my changing plans with extended stays without her being appraised, so the SPOT is for her more than me.   For many years during the past I would be gone days in the high rugged mountains sometimes on horseback,  by myself with only a general date & time of return & area  I would be without phone or any other means of contact, making it much easier for her to put up with the calculated risk of  me being off by myself now.  If I failed to return hours after she expected, first she would summon help with VHF & if no contact the SPOT.  We don't set a specific time for either, giving me the freedom to explore & her to decide when to long gone is to long.

Joe, there's a couple of the older pre C-Dory, Hunkydory's here, but no C-Brats now. Sure glad to read your post about the cancer on your elbow not spreading. My Dad had two separate cases of melanoma & neither one got out of control. It was the supposably much less dangerous prostrate type that finally got hom after 13 years.

Jay
 
We've now been here in Sitka a whole week, which is several more days than planned.  About the time we were actually ready to shove off another big blow showed up on the forecast & we decided to wait it out here.  Planning on leaving here midday tomorrow.  Still have three days of moderate winds & a whole another week of rain, but with them coming from land & or our stern & the many narrow channels it should be pleasant enough.  The long range forecast is calling for a clearing trend & warmer weather& sure hope it's true.  Red bluff Bay & blue sky's sounds wonderful to us.  In either case with 10 gal of diesel for the stove & 96 gal of gas for the Hunkydory $ Mokai & us averaging over 6 mpg so far, we'er set to be out again for awhile.   Last fueling lasted us 20 days & we still had over 30 gal left when we arrived at the Sitka fuel dock.

The eagle displays here have been phenomenal.  The storm has strong winds blowing down the channel  in front of the Thompson Marina harbor & with us fortunate to receive a docking space in it looking directly out on the channel we literally have a birds eye view on their antics.  About a dozen of them have been flying very slowly into the wind & then repeatedly diving to pick up fish scraps & proceed to eat them in the air, then when they reach the end of the food source circle & start all over.  I had thought eagles could only fly doing fairly extreme maneuvering for a short time period, then have to land  or soar, but they have continued these actions for an hour or more.  Hugely entertaining to watch.

The cruise boats from the Seattle area have started to arrive here in Sitka.  I believe from here on we will be seeing more of them then we'd prefer.

Tomorrows my 64th  birthday & very happy to have it pass while on the water starting another chapter of this adventure. 

Jay
 
Well J&J, looks like you picked about the crappiest May in history to start your trip but just think how glorious it will be with the sun out. I made it as far out as Pt. Adolphus last week and managed to get a small halibut on board. It was glassy calm in Icy Strait and wicked rough coming around Retreat on the way back. About wore my Alaska flag out in the wind one night at anchor. You pretty much covered a lot of the areas I was hoping to get too some day on your way to Sitka. Sounds like some pretty awesome cruising. Take care and let us know when you will be heading somewhere back this way and we may be able to meet you out there.
 
Well happy birthday Jay! I've really enjoyed reading about this trip and your "antics" in general. Keep writing, there's a lot of us living vicariously through your stories.
 
Happy birthday Jay!

I'm beginning the trek north Friday AM. The plan is to be in Ketchikan by 6/15, Petersburg 6/20, Juneau 6/27, then Glacier Bay for the 4th of July, Sitka 7/11-7/16, and Wrangell 7/23. Somehow my trip with no schedule ended up with quite a schedule as various guests fly in and out.

Hopefully the weather will brighten by the time I get up there! Regardless, it should be a fun trip. I'll keep an eye on your SPOT and perhaps we'll cross paths. Good luck with the rest of your trip!

Sam
 
Happy birthday, Jay - glad you are able to spend it doing what you enjoy! Hope the forecast for warmer/drier is accurate. Keep the reports coming.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Thanks for the Birthday good wishes!! We are shoving off shortly & will be turning the SPOT tracking back on. Will most likely be out of contact for a couple weeks.

Jay
 
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