July 27-August 6,, 2016

 

July 27 – August 5, 2016

 We are back in Alaska after our break to go to the Hall of Fame celebration for Ken Griffey Jr.  We picked a good time to be gone as it has been bad weather and raining for much of the time we were gone.  On July 27 we experienced the bad weather with a very rainy dark overcast day to travel from Hoonah to Juneau to meet up with the fleet.  While the weather was bad we were treated to some incredible whale sightings.  First Orcas then Humpbacks bubble feeding.  We found a bunch of Whale watching boats off of the most northern point of our trip in Alaska (Pt Retreat).  We made the turn and headed towards Juneau when we got a great show of humpbacks feeding!

 After the show we went into Auke Bay Juneau to meet up with all our boats – it was nice to see everyone after our two week break!  Leaving Juneau today the weather is better as we head to Taku on our way South.  We were treated to more whales as we headed out and some great shots of the Mendenhall Glacier above Juneau.

Taku was the site of an old cannery in the early 1900’s so lots of stuff to look at.  We were able to tie up to the docks and go along the boardwalk to the site of the old cannery.  After Taku it was a short ride down to Tracy Arm Cove.  Michael, Steve’s brother joined us via float plane for a week of cruising which started off with the North Sawyer Glacier.  I rode on Magic Moment while Steve waited for Michael’s plane to arrive then followed us in Nellie.  The following day we explored Endicott Arm with Nellie which included a trip thru Fords Terror and on to the Dawes Glaciers.  There is something so magical about the glaciers.  For me it is the best part of Alaska cruising!

August 1 – Time for us to head south towards Pack Creek Recreation area to see the Bears feeding in the rivers – we have a permit to enter on Wednesday so we are travelling south from Tracy Arm today – cool and overcast but once again incredible flat water!

August 3 – Pack Creek – Grizzly bears!  We got quite the show and what a beautiful spot. It is hard to believe but we are leaving the group tomorrow and for the most part will not have all 7 boats together  so we had a Steak Dinner Potluck on Magic Moment to say goodbye.Boats are heading back at different times but Miners Debt, Spirit Bear and Nelsea plan on leaving around the 17^th.  It sounds like Noon Balloon is leaving around the 13^th and Magic Moment and Sea Life not until the end of August.  It has been a magical summer of cruising with the group!

August 4 -  Miners Debt and Nelsea left the group this morning to get to our anchorage for the night at Whitney Island where we caught fish in 2013. Another great spot for fishing – Tom caught his limit of Silver and Crab,  Steve caught a Halibut and Silver and Michael caught 2 Silvers plus we were treated to amazing weather, water and a whale show on the way to Whitney Island.  Now we are off to Petersburg where we say goodbye to Michael (Steve’s brother) and hello to Ellen and Mike for another week of adventures with friends from home.