Still Cruisin'

August 6, 2008 – Well we headed out for Ketchikan knowing that the weather was predicted to get nasty, but we stayed fairly close to land and had several anchorages available along the way.
We got as far as Foggy Bay and stayed for 3 days. The weather was cold, foggy, raining and high winds still out in the open waters. Jerry was getting a little ‘antsy’ so we left and headed across the Revillagigedo Channel. UGHLY! We needed to turn to the West to get on the other side of the Channel but the wind and waves were blowing from the South. We had to tack our way across and as soon as we got the protection of the high mountain things were a lot better.
We pulled into Ketchikan only to be surrounded by boaters who had been sitting out the weather for almost a week. The next day just on ‘cue’ the skies opened up and the sun came out. Jerry and I walked around the city and had a nice afternoon.
August 1, 2008 – Byron got into town and we had a nice dinner of Bouillabaisse and caught up on family gossip.
August 2, 2008 – Another beautiful day for the Blueberry Festival. We had a nice day together. Stocked up on ‘booze’ and will head out tomorrow.
August 3, 2008 – We have decided to circle around the Revillagigedo Island on the Behm Canal. We didn’t get very far today – after filling up the diesel tanks @$4.58 a gallon we spent several hours trolling with no luck. We spent the night at the Dogfish Bay on a Ranger Dock – Jerry and Byron went out in the dinghy and caught a mess of small rock fish.
August 4, 2008 – More trolling today – Byron caught a beautiful 8 pound Sockeye Salmon. We spent the night on another Forest Service Dock in Traitor’s Cove. The weather has continued to be sunny and in the low 80s. And this morning we walked up to the bear watching platform built over a waterfalls area where there are salmon ladders and lots of bear trying to catch them. After that little 3 mile hike we were all tired but ready to move on just a bit further up the Canal to Yes Bay. A truly striking area where the fish are plentiful and the waters protected. There is a Yes Bay Lodge where we stopped for bait and fishing info. This is the place you want to come to for that ‘male bonding’ www.yesbay.com.
August 5, 2008 – We continued along the Behm Canal through the Misty Fjords staying at Fitzgibbon, Walker and Punchbowl Coves, Each one more beautiful than the next. Finally we came back to Ketchikan for Byron to catch an early morning flight on Sunday. Unfortunately a weather low closed in and we are still here with rain, fog, rain, wind, and rain. The forecast has been and continues for 35 knot winds and 7 foot seas. We have kept ourselves busy with visits to the marine store and walking around Ketchikan. It is now Wednesday and the harbor here is full of boats like us waiting to get back on the water.