Prince Rupert to Ketchikan and Meyers Chuck

Naknek and Wanderer motored out of Prince Rupert at first light hoping to get across Dixon Entrance and into Alaska before the wind got up.  A look at the second map shows our route exposed to wind and waves from the Pacific.  Dixon is the fourth and last of the “dragons” that lay in wait for the unwary mariner along the Inside Passage.  We had enjoyed sunny and breezy weather in Prince Rupert.  This morning we expected the wind to be light.  The swell was reported to be four feet.

The weatherman got it right.  Three hours and 25 minutes into the passage we had crossed Chatham Sound, left Dundas Island to port and at 07:45 Canadian Pacific Time entered Alaska.  The first photo shows the top of Naknek in the gentle swells we encountered.  An hour later we dropped anchor in Foggy Bay behind two sailboats.  We had obtained permission to spend the night in this remote anchorage before clearing customs.  Just before dark, we watched a large grizzly forage along the shore about 200 feet away.  (Too dark for a picture)

Next morning we endured a half hour of pounding off Mary Island which lies at the junction of four channels.  By 09:00, we had cleared customs in Ketchikan and were ready for a look around town.  Just across the street from the customs dock the one-time red light district turned gift shops line the creek.  The streets adjoining the cruise ships docks are lined with jewelry and liquor stores.  We were told that there are 52 jewelry stores in town and that 50 were owned by the cruise lines.

It would be five days before Casey’s wife Sandy would fly into Ketchikan.  Casey decided to stay in town until she arrived.  We would miss Casey’s easy going and sunny attitude.  So, we lost good company and our last buddy-boat.  Alone, Wanderer moved on the next day to Meyers Chuck.  Sadly, we missed the arrival of Halcyon, Daydream and Anna Leigh.