Meet-Up in Petersburg

Back in Petersburg for the third time, we kept our rendezvous with friends Veronica and Brian.We were so excited to share some Alaskan highlights, we set out the next morning to see the tidewater glacier in Le Conte Bay.

It was chilly along the way with plenty of icebergs to dodge, but we were able to get within a quarter mile of the face.

There was a beautiful valley we weren't able to see last time we were here.

And plenty of icebergs to explore and harvest for happy hour.

On the way back, we were overtaken by the equivalent of an on-the-water motorcycle gang!

(A guided jet-ski tour from Ketchikan to Juneau.)

The tides and currents were favorable the next day for an easy passage through Wrangell Narrows and left us time to explore the petroglyph beach at low tide and walk through town.

Beautiful Hollyhocks.

We had a nice stay and successful pawning expedition in Santa Anna Inlet, where we were prevented from entering for about an hour while Humpback Whales cavorted in the narrow entrance. We found the hidden falls again, still raging down the mountainside, almost completely obscured by trees.

The following day we headed toward a new anchorage for Dog Star, Vixen Harbor.

The entrance to this small inlet is charted as drying at low tide, but previous exploration by Airship showed adequate depth for us at high tide and we held our breath as we passed.

Whew! Made it! Now we explore.

Just 100 feet back from the shoreline in the forest were huge cedar trees.

Plenty of down and dead wood for a variety of polypores and other fungus.

As well as this Mountain Lingonberry.

The forest was quiet and peaceful with a (feet) thick layer of moss on the ground.

We eventually stumbled upon a pond, well-hidden from the shore.

Though not successful with the poles, wildlife spotting is a bonus.

Crabbing was successful and after stuffing ourselves, we settled in for a lovely evening.

A quick trip around the corner, hardly time to pull out the knitting, we pulled into another new place for Dog Star, Meyer's Chuck.

Complete with float plane service.

We skipped this stop early in the trip due to bad weather, so we were looking forward to the dockside delivery of cinnamon rolls by the postmistress that we heard so much about!

They were delicious!

Ronnie and Brian each contemplating what it will be like to bring Clara here some day.

The wind was perfect for sailing on a reach with the Code 0 to Ketchikan.

Well-earned libations at the Arctic Bar.

Astonishingly, this is the first large cruise ship we encountered the whole summer!

Ronnie and Brian watching the salmon jumping up the falls of Ketchikan Creek before heading to the airport (by ferry) the next morning. Thanks for sharing a bit of Alaska with us!