Mid-November 2019 we weighed anchor at Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas, bound for Hawaii.  We had been lured northward by many of our cruiser friends who had sailed Alaska and entertained us with stories, each more exciting than the last.  Glaciers, eagles, sea otters, grizzlies, sea lions, whales, orcas and anything else you can imagine.…

Alaska part 5 Alaska has three types of bears: Polar Bear, Brown Bear (this is the Grizzly, can be brown or beige) and the Black Bear (brown or black.  The Polar Bear lives in the far north Alaska, deep in the Arctic.  The southern part of Alaska has many Grizzlies and even though we haven’t…

June 21st and we took in our lines to sail the twenty-fine nm from Hoonah to Glacier Bay.  Visitors to the Bay are strictly limited, the better to protect the marine life and the fragile environment.  We are one of the lucky boats that have gotten permission to sail the bay for seven days.  The…

After our unforgettable experience in Tracy Arm, we sailed northwards, heading for our northernmost destination on this journey – Glacier Bay.  Glacier Bay is a National Park and in an effort to keep it as pristine as possible, the number of visitors is restricted.  Entry can only be gained by applying with the Rangers at…

We left Petersburg very early in the morning (due to the tide).  Despite planning to hit slack water the last couple of nm out of Wrangell Passage, we had a following current running at least 4 knots. Oh well, rather a following current that a contrary current.  When we exited the Passage, the current just…

It is the 1st of June and after spending three-and-a-half weeks sailing north through Canada, we’re finally ready to cross Dixon Entrance and enter Alaska.  We need to clear out of Prince Rupert (Canada) and clear into the US in Ketchikan (Alaska).  The distance between the two towns is only 90 nautical miles, half of…

We crossed Queen Charlotte Sound in what passes for magnificent weather in these parts (read – there was no storm).  We had decided to anchor up in a small well-protected cove that is, funnily enough, named “Safe Cove”.  As you might guess, “Safe Coves” are not found everywhere up here and it probably isn’t named…

It’s the 21st of May and the first day of sunshine since we left Port Angeles 2 ½ weeks ago.  Six-thirty a.m. and Carsten fires up our engine.  Once again, it sounds like Carsten is busy ripping the tail off a cat.  I was of the firm belief that my husband was once again a…

The day before leaving, Vinni and I say the magic words to each: “Make ready for sea”. Make ready for sea.  Taste those words.  They are magic, bringing up visions of empty oceans, faraway anchorages, adventures beyond description and life as a cruising vagabond.  Make ready for sea.  Any cruiser will tell you that they…

We left Port Angeles August 21.  Our intention was to visit the National Parks scattered like pearls across the western United States.  I have, over the 30 some years Vinni and I have lived together, told her many times of the fantastic places and parks there are in the US, especially the western part.  Someday,…