Ketch to Juneau (Picture heavy!)

This section of the trip is the most fun.  We feel we are at home again, the mountains are taller and it is just a special place for Kay and I.  Once again our friend Al Johnson met us at the dock in Ketch with a six pack of Alaskan Amber.  We would need it.

Our traveling companions, aboard the Pairadice, a 47ft Selene was having issues.  The windlass quit working, so while we were in Prince Rupert John ordered a windlass relay.  The Selene dealer guaranteed this would solve the problem. When we got to Ketchikan off to the post office we went.  The part was sent back as non deliverable as we also picked up my part and some cigars.  I guess they were also undeliverable.  We think the dealer screwed up. Another relay was ordered from the east coast.  Took 4 days to get there and it didn't fix the problem.  John is starting to getting frustrated.  No worries, we will get it fixed.  We took the windlass motor out, cleaned everything up, jumped a battery to it and it worked!!  Put it all back together and it wouldn't run.  I suggested to John the motor was burned up.  We had a marine electrician verify our finding. I found the windlass in San Diego for $3700, plus shipping so $4100.  Took 5 days to get it to Alaska.  We installed it and we now have flight!!

We had spent 2 weeks in Ketch and we were ready to leave. Our next stop was a little bay called Vixen Inlet.  Dropped a shrimp and crab traps. The next day poor John, his shrimp pot had drifted with the current and was lost.  Kay and I had 1 crab and a dozen shrimp.  Not much, but we will take it.

Wrangell was next.  We stayed at the Heritage docks which are really nice, but a few miles outta town.  Ketchikan Al to the rescue!  He loaned us a car.  We really like Wrangell.  Small town USA.  Every kid you met, looked you in the eye when they said hello.

We bypassed Petersburg and went to Thomas bay.  Kay's big foot stop.  We hiked the cascades falls trail.  I did a little gold panning.  Got a few flakes, but know nuggets.

John's heater crapped out on him.  I asked him to keep the gremlins on his boat.  Found some leaks in the hoses which were replaced and we were on again.

next stop was Admiralty Island and snug harbor.  We really enjoyed this as we had never been there.  We also stopped along the way at 5 fingers and tried some halibut fishing.  Once again, Kay out fished me and landed a small "butt."  It tasted wonderful at dinner.

Then the gremlins went to work again!  John's generator started overheating.  After a few hours of troubleshooting it was determined some sea kelp got sucked up in the inlet.  The next day he ran hard to Tracey Arm which removed the blockage.

Last year we couldn't get back to the glaciers as they were just calving too much.  This year was a total different story.  We took John and Tracey's boat and made it to North Sawyer Glacier.  What a treat.  That evening a thunder storm blew in with 30mph winds and lots of rain.  Finally calmed down around midnight.  I know it was midnight as I was on the bridge doing anchor watch.

The next morning we tried again for some halibut, with no luck.  We had been out of civilization for about 6 days.  It was nice to see Juneau and get cell service.  This summer so far very few sunny days, mostly cloudy and rain.  Typical SE Alaska weather.  We are going to retrace our route and take a ferry to Skagway to ride the steam locomotive. Should be fun.

Large logs and trees are in the water just waiting to hit your boat

many many waterfalls

With trees there are also rocks

Ketchikan Al greeting us upon our arrival!!

Ketch is the land of boats, both small and large and float planes

Totems

Creek Street

Read the sign



Sunset in Ketch.  this is at 10:30 PM.  Sunrise at 4:30

The fishing crew returns

a nice shiner

we had a week of sunshine in Ketch!!!  yep a whole week!  The gals getting their swim gear on.

See the eagle?  Hint look high.....

Alaska ferry in dry dock

Pairadice heading outta town

Finally leaving ketch

Clarence Straits

Kay getting stick time

A whale

Yum Yum

Bring up crab pots

There is a Brown bear in there somewhere

Kay big fish, me........

Pairadice

Wrangell Heritage harbor

ASD

Toot Sweet????

Pairadice and ASD side by side

Leaving Wrangell

two tree island.  yep that is the actual name, except if you look closer there is a third tree.

Wrangell narrows current

Oh Oh Alaska ferry gaining and the narrows channel are only 40 feet wide



Navigating the narrows.  This needs all your attention, especially when there is an Alaskan ferry baring down on you!!

Fishing lodge.

Finally found a pull out

Petersburg

Look out John!!!

Look at the color of the water.  Glacier runoff

Cascade falls Trail

Letting me break trail, just incase there are bears

Cascades falls

 The path

Bridge over the falls

Skunk cabbage

 

Looking down trail

The trail goes up!

Panning for gold.  I did find a few flakes

Devils club.  You DO NOT want to grab this stuff

Thomas Bay Anchorage

ASD

leaving Thomas bay

5 Fingers Light House

5 Fingers

small but tasty!!!

Storm blowing in.  Time to leave

Snug Harbor

Our company for the night

Sea weed on our anchor

lots of Cruise ships

Getting close to Tracey Arm

 

Our anchorage in "No Name Bay" in Tracey Arm

 

Ice Bergs everywhere

Kay caught on camera the moment a big part of the iceberg broke and splashed into the water,

John and Tracey trolling for small ice bergs for this evening's drinks

Black ice.  Too big for drink ice, but large enough to sink your boat!!

Jackpot!!!!

Lots of ice coming

Eagles

John and Tracey

Glacier Ice for drinks!!!

Cigar and a drinkk with Glacier ice.  Life is good

Glacier Ice is groovy!!!

Storm coming!

This is 3 AM

3 AM

Ice berg watch

Tour ship leaving North Sawyer Glacier Arm

South Sawyer Glacier

North Sawyer Glacier

cool dude!!!

Seals give birth on these bergs

The storm is here