Coffman Cove, Point Baker, Port Protection, Hole in the Wall

Day1: We left Kasaan bright and early to continue heading north along the east side of Prince of Wales Island. Water was calm, and we saw another mama humpback and her baby cruising along the shoreline. We arrived at Coffman Cove around 3:15, leaving us time for another walk around town. Coffman Cove is set up well for sport fisherman and hunters. Fortunately, the season hasn't started yet, so it was pretty quiet. There was a small store, a pub (closed), a fire station, the school. There are roads connecting many of the villages on this end of the island, unsure how many are actually paved.

Juvenile Bald Eagle knows where his vittles come from: the fish cleaning table!

The high school greenhouses. Apparently, there is a program in SE Alaska encouraging students to learn about sustainable living and gardening.

A pretty bay on the other side of town.

Well-used cedar trunk. We saw a redbreast sapsucker gathering food and delivering to her fledglings. David was alerted by the peeping of the baby birds. (In a taller tree hole).

Inside the green house. They use hydroponic methods, with salmon living in the water (and fertilizing it).

Day 2: Fun picture out the stern of the boat. On our way up and over the top of Prince of Wales. Beautiful day on the water!

We thought we might stop in Red Bay, but realized we were getting a weather window to go around the bottom of Kuiu Island to get over to Chatham Strait, where the humpback whales hang out.

Going in to Point Baker, hoping to fill up our fuel tank... The pictures aren't showing how aqua blue the water was, with the deep green of the trees. So pretty! Some homes along this narrow passage into the fuel dock and restaurant (??maybe a burger??).

Point Baker docks. Sadly, everything was empty! For sale signs on the restaurant. We found a guy outside the floating post office who told us someone had died, and they weren't keeping the restaurant our fuel stop. Nearest fuel at Port Protection, about 45 miles by boat. We phoned ahead, and they said they did have some fuel. Off we went.

Just outside of the entrance to Point Baker-- the very NW corner of Prince of Wales Island.

Port Protection marina. Such friendly people! And some of the film crew from the show were sitting around the dock in the sun, making plans. We had watched a few episodes of the show while holed up in Ketchikan, which gave us a pretty good feel about the place and it's people.

Port Protection government dock.

We were able to squeeze in behind a fishing boat to get to the gravity-fed diesel hose.

Port Protection Lodge. There was a small store inside.

Looking for Hole in the Wall... our anchorage tonight.

Sea Cave along Sumner Strait, getting closer to the Hole in the Wall!

There it is: the HOLE!

Down the NARROW passage to the anchorage.

Once inside the "bay" area. It shallowed up real quick, so we anchored in the opening just outside the narrow passage. Went for a dingy reconnaissance back through the passage and around the anchorage.

Cool sculpting of the limestone rocks, caused by the motion of the water breaking it down.

Sunset time.

More fissures in the limestone shoreline.

Mount Calder peaking out.