Days 411 & 412 Two for the price of one again!

That's right, that same great special you had a short while ago is back!!! Two for the price of one!!

We didn't leave for Deception Point Cove in Wrangell Narrows till 0900 so that our arrival would coincide with the change in tides and currents. While we were only going up the Narrows about 2 miles before we turned left into the cove, we didn't want to get blasted by out coming tide and current that can reach 3 knots or more. While we have plans to go tomorrow, we just wanted to be ready for the jump off early since we would be entering the Narrows at about 0400. Yeah, that's right--4:00AM! The "recommended" plan by the "experts" in the "know" is that you time your entrance to start at the last of the flood tide to propel the boat well up into the narrows so that once the flood stops, you get an additional push from the ebb as the narrows is a strange place that floods from both ends and ebbs both ways. Weird, huh?

On our way over to Deception Point Cove, we saw two big power cruising boats heading up into the Narrows at exactly the wrong time. They were going in as the flood tide was already over and the ebb had started so they would face fast nasty currents(at least for our boat) along the entire trek--21 miles. I though perhaps I was confused as to when to enter and what the currents were so I pulled up my program that shows the currents and the times and double checked. Yeah, I was right. They were going in at exactly the wrong time. At least they have the power to over come the pressure of the currents. It would kill us to face a 2 or 3 knot current. It would double or more our time of travel.

So into Deception Point Cove(56 32.536N 132 59.155W) by 1130 and dropped the hook. We got a bit concerned as there were two log booms anchored in the cove. They are logs about 4 times the diameter of a telephone pole that are chained to the bottom to hold "log booms"(big rafted up collections of logs ready for transit to the mill) for transit. Luckily, none appeared. Actually, no other boats joined us in the anchorage for the night. It blew most of the afternoon so the DuoGen was spinning nicely making lots of nice amps for our batteries. The day started out cloudy but turned nice and sunny by the time we anchored. It was a quick trip of 16.6 miles in just 2.5 hours. We caught the out going tides and got to over 7 knots most of the way. We were both really surprised at all the "muddy" water that surrounds us. It may be run off from the glaciers but it sure looks muddy to us.

Wrangell Narrows is supposed to be the "freeway" of the passage with lots of boats coming and going at all times. We saw the two power boat cruisers, several small fishing boats and the Alaskan state ferry about 2200 hours as it went South. That's about it. Not that much traffic that we could see.

I hooked up my IPod to our TV so we could watch a movie last night while at anchor. The batteries inverter(makes DC power into AC power) made the AC power for the TV and the IPod took care of the rest. We saw "The Mummy"(thanks Pat). A fun flick. The first movie we have seen in quite a while.

Day 412--Into the Narrows!!

Up at 0320 to be out in the Narrows by 0400. Amazingly, it was light at that hour of the day. It was like twilight. It keeps getting weirder up here as to the day light each day. As we left the cove, we heard a broadcast from a ship called Pacific Titan that they were about to enter the Narrows at the South end like us. I pulled up the computer to get information on our AIS system as to who and what was out there. Up comes this big tug boat that is coming up the Narrows at 10.5 knots hauling a barge behind them full of containers and machinery. Well our top speed, with the current assist, might get to 8 if we were lucky. I picked up the VHF radio and gave him a call. I think he was amazed that someone wanted to talk to him, especially since I had us switch to a "working" channel and off the emergency hailing channel(Coast Guard Auxiliary training pays off some times). I advised him who we were and where we were and that we were heading the same way. He advised us to pull over at the next cove and wait for him to pass. He even thanked me for the call!! I don't think anyone would want a setup like his coming up behind them on a tight narrows like Wrangell. Bigger always wins!!

We pulled over and waited for him to pass. As he was only about a mile behind us, it didn't take long for him to be gone. We cranked up the RPMs to 1750 and took off with the incoming current. It pushed us along nicely. We maxed out at 9.3 knots!!

The biggest problem we had as we transited the Narrows was the fishermen in their small boats. Dozens of them--all over the place. Mostly in the middle of the channel. Sitting, standing or lying down in their boats. They were everywhere and they didn't want to move. We just kept on coming and eventually, they got out of our way glaring at us the entire time. We dared to interrupt their fishing! Hey, like I said earlier--Bigger always wins!! I was amazed how many houses dot the shore line along the channel. There were houses all along the shore. The East side of the Narrows has a road beside it but not the West side. Their only way in is by boat. I have always imagined Alaska as being relatively deserted once you leave the cities. No so from what we have seen. Their have been houses and people in just about every place we have anchored since we got to Alaska.

As we approached Petersburg at the North end of the Narrows, I called the Harbormaster to see if there was any place to anchor so we could come ashore to play tourist. He told me I could anchor beside the old fuel dock(not the new one) just past the fish processing plant near the barge but not where the sea planes land and take off. Now if I lived in the area, that might make sense. All I had were some maps that don't say anything about old or new(fuel docks), nothing about fish processing plants let alone sea planes. We saw no boats at anchor so I went below and tried to get on the internet as we motored through town. I think it's called "war driving"(don't know why). I found a connection and Tracy took poor Zephyr back and forth in front of town, over and over till I could get everything done. We had a signal and then it was gone, Back and forth, on then off, over and over. I checked the emails and responded to some that needed it. Contacted our insurance company about the big hail storm so an adjuster can come out(the things you miss while boating). We just couldn't find a place to anchor from his directions so we didn't. We just hooked up to the internet and kept on traveling. Heck, it was only 0730 on a Sunday. Who the heck would be open anyway.

We took off into the Frederick Sound and headed North again. It was another 13 miles to Thomas Bay, our next port of call. As we entered, this time it was commercial fishing people that were all along the Sound and in front of us as we entered Thomas Bay and behind us too. As we headed in, we took a left turn and headed back to Baird Glacier at the North end of the bay, about 5 miles in. While it has receded from the water edge, there was still a lot of ice and snow to be seen. We couldn't get that close as there was a shoal coming our from the glacier made from the dirt from its run off. An amazing sight. It started to sprinkle so we took off for Ruth Island Cove(56 58.818N 132 48.982W)on the East side of the island. I put on my foul weather gear and dropped the hook. If we are heading into a dock, I take the wheel and Tracy does the fenders and dock line. If we are anchoring, she takes the wheel and I take the anchor. Works just fine for us.

Down went the anchor in 38 feet of water and I let out 120 feet of chain and Tracy powered Zephyr backwards to set the hook and we were all set. Nice and secure for tonight. It is still sprinkling and will continue for the rest of the afternoon if the forecasters are right(the Sun should be here any minute). It would be a lovely place if the the Sun would just come out.

I'd planned to change the engine oil this afternoon as it now had just over 100 hours on it and that is when the "professionals" recommend it be changed(original owners manual says 200). Unfortunately, the oil pump for sucking out the oil is in the storage area at the bow and since it is raining, it will just have to wait till tomorrow. I did change the oil in the diesel injector pump. It produced only 13 ounces again when it was drained so it's not getting too diluted by the diesel fuel as it passed through it. It's set for another 50 hours. I did it at 62 and it was just fine. Again, the "professionals" say to change it every 100 hours but my owners manual says 50. I'll err on the side of caution and do it as close to 50 as I can.

Well, Tracy is back taking a nap to catch up on the sleep she lost last night having to get up so early this morning. We left at 0400 and were in by 1230. We chalked off another 48.1 miles on the expedition North. At this rate, we expect to be in Tracy Arm in two days. We hope it is sunny so we can see the glaciers at their best. If not, we will probably just go on the Juneau and fill the tanks(water and diesel) and hit Costco for some more essentials. We still have plenty of food, but there are just some things that Costco has that we still need. I sure hope they are close to the docks. It could be a long hike with a cart to drag behind us. We'll then hit Tracy Arm on the way back and hope for the best. That's the reason we have traveled so far and we aren't going to miss it. We still plan on being back in Port Townsend by July 15 and that means few stops on the way to rest.