Day 410 Off North again.

We took off this morning at 0700 after pulling up an anchor full of kelp. Nice green slimy stuff. We headed out into Clarence Strait and took a left. Well, sort of. We headed across to the East side of the strait. Last night I had finally managed to get the computer fully functional so we had not only AIS but also our GPS so all was well in the cockpit.

Shortly after leaving, we "saw" the Holland America Veendam heading South through Snow Passage at the North end of Clarence on our AIS. Our Automatic Identification System(just got it to work again) showed us the Veendam over 25 miles away. Much farther than our radar could have and it told us where she was and how fast she was heading South for Ketchikan. It also told us how close she would come to us and how soon. A great help to those of us that are in waters used by the big cruise lines. About 30 minutes later--Veendam hadn't even gotten to us we saw Celebrity Mercury headed the same direction. It was great having that kind of information right in front of us.

As we headed across Clarence Strait towards Lincoln Rock, we suddenly saw a lot of water flying up into the air. WHALES!!! At least two from what we could see. Tails splashing over and over. Flying into the air and crashing back into the water. It went on for over half an hour before they took off South. With luck, the Veendam got to see the same sight we saw, just no where near as close as we were. We were right at sea level and they are way up high. Veendam passed us about 30 minutes later. What an incredible sight to see the whales.

We pressed on into Stikine Strait and ran into current that wasn't supposed to be there. We had calculated our trip to run into a flood tide just as we entered the Strait. Instead, we got knocked down to 4.3 knots just as we had expected a 2.3 knot flood tide to kick us up to well over 7 knots. It was not to be. Apparently, the current from the Stikine River at the North side of the strait has such force that it over powers the effects of the flood tide.

As we continued Northeast up the strait, dolphins came by for a visit to play in the bow wake. Up and down in the water jumping right in front of Zephyr and over to the other side. Three or four of them. A short visit and they were off.

It pays to keep a close watch on the water in front of the boat. As we neared the end of todays trip, there was what looked from a distance a small island. There was no island on our charts--paper or electronic. As we got closer, we saw through binoculars that it was an entire floating tree heading South toward us. If we hadn't been keeping such a close watch, there was every chance we would have run into it. We try never to play chicken with "deadheads". Typically, they win and you sink if they're big enough.

At 1300 hours, we pulled into Roosevelt Harbor on Zarembo Islands East side(56 23.718N 132 38.271W). Last nights anchorage had people on shore in trailers. There were roads on Prince Of Wales Island right to our anchorage at Ratz Bay and the same thing tonight. A forestry dock and several small local fishing boats coming in and out all afternoon as well as a crab fisherman coming in to check his "catch". How can you call it "catching" when all the poor crab has to do is wander into a trap? No skill, just luck of where you place your traps. We saw him pull up one trap and keep only one crab and throw back a good half dozen. You can only keep the males(sexist pigs) and must throw back the females so they can make more baby crabs. Here is one time it doesn't pay to be a guy I guess. We went another 34.7 miles today and keep making our way farther North.

Tomorrow, over to the entrance to Wrangell Narrows. Strange that Wrangell Narrows doesn't take you to Wrangell. It takes you to Petersburg. Wrangell is on the mainland many miles East of us. We will be heading up the narrows on Sunday early morning. A departure of 0400 is planned so we make the last of the flood tide and will be where we need to be as the tide changes. Here is another reason to study the charts. Half way up the narrows, the tide and current changes. The narrows floods and ebbs both ways. It will flood in from the North and South end at the same time and then ebb the opposite when the tide changes. We have to be at a particular spot as the tide changes so we can "ride" the ebb tide North to complete the trip. The Narrows are 21 miles long and the tide switches 12 miles from the South end. WIth proper planning, we should be in Petersburg by 0700. Drop the hook and tour the town for an hour or so and then set off again. With luck, I'll find a wifi spot so I can get this and other posts posted.

Just 12 miles North of Petersburg is Ruth Island in Thomas Bay. My mother was named Ruth and my father was Thomas so where better to spend the night. It is supposed to have some great places to drop the hook. Well, another fisherman just came in to the harbor and tied up to the dock for the night. Busy place out here in the boonies.