Our group of travelers discussed the next leg of our trip, to work our way eastward to the mainland, in the context of an incoming weather system. We decided on two long days with a two night stop at the second anchorage to way for the wind to blow through. We motored back through Peril Strait...
(Photo courtesy of Laura Domela)
...but had to pause.
[From the log of Dog Star]: "In Peril Strait, we paused about 6 nm shy of our destination to watch a group of humpbacks, at least 3, one of which appeared to be a calf. With the engine off, the whoosh of their spouts were easily heard. After quite a long time in one place, eventually they moved off and so did we." What a wonderful 36th anniversary present!
Appleton Cove was a quiet, forested nook. After setting out crab pots and shrimp pots, we took a walk on a lovely beach (bear spray in the back pocket, of course).
A long (10 hour) day followed to Courverdon Cove, interrupted briefly by a pod of Orcas booking it south. This is the only picture I got.
Courverden Cove was a nicely protected anchorage for the predicted southerly wind, though a bit boring by comparison to all that we've seen so far. The front brought pouring rain all day, so Julie hosted LuAnn and Anna for cozy knitting while David made cavatelli.
We set off for Taku Harbor in better but still sporty conditions. We passed the lighthouse at Point Retreat as well as this Black-footed Kittiwake.
As we passed Douglas Island, Juneau on the other side, the Mendenhall Glacier dominated the scene. (Top picture of this post.) Rounding Arden Point, the outflow of Taku Inlet (famous for frequent glacial outflow events and the Taku winds that have fanned many wildfires in Juneau's history) joined Stephen's Passage, turning the water glacial green.
Taku Harbor was the site of a large cannery, abandoned in the mid-twentieth century and left to fall to ruins.
A few residents continued to live there until the early 21st century, so their abandoned houses are in better shape than the cannery (one even for sale!).
A short trail through the woods found the swing. A couple cruising on their sailboat found a large spool of rope floating by. They set about building swings with it at various anchorages around SE Alaska
Common Yarrow
Nose to nose with Airship.
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