Meyers Chuck 07/28/2025

 Let's play again: where are the rocks?

Low tide... this is the entrance to a small bay known as Meyers Chuck.

High tide, you'd better be paying attention to your charts.

All those little asterisks... rocks...the hard bits you want to avoid with your boat.

Everything that is delivered to this bay, comes by boat, or floatplane. 

When we arrived, the weather was sunny, and Clarence Strait was calm, so the dock was fairly empty. We tied up to our favorite spot on the end facing out. It's easier to depart that way.

The next day the weather was predicted to turn, and Clarence Strait was going to have the wind kick up a few notches. The dock was full by 10:30am, and more boats were still coming in, which meant they would have to anchor in the bay instead. I like to watch the jockeying for position, but not BE the one doing the jockeying. We ended up moving small boats closer together on the inside of the dock, to make room, as one boat came in having lost its anchor, and had to be on the dock. It happens, that's why we keep spares, and unfortunately they didn't have one. Lesson learned.

Looking down the length of the dock.

You can tell the winds by looking at those clouds. 

Meyers Chuck is a cute small community without any amenities, like power, running water, communications, the one exception is a part-time post office, it’s only open 2 days a week, and only in the summer, and the cinnamon rolls that the post mistress makes in the mornings. 

This board is at the top of the dock ramp, you can put your mail in the slot, read realty ads, pay a small fee for a map of the trail system, and get the information to order cinnamon rolls. At seven in the morning, Cassy gets in her skiff and delivers hot fresh rolls and cookies to you, either at the dock, or to your boat at anchor. They're delicious!

During the next few days, some boats left, some more arrived, and we ate cinnamon rolls. (Wrapped in plastic wrap for freshness.)

Gus is sitting on Denali Rose's side deck, keeping an eye on the new neighbors. He's ready to repel boarders if needed. As it turned out, this boat had a beautiful pure white long hair cat onboard. However, she was not to be trusted, and didn't have outside deck privileges. 

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Fourth of July 07/18/2025

 

This is where Gus “hides” when he feels that a departure is going to take place. That’s a port in the back cabin where we sleep. As soon as the engine starts up though, he prefers to roost on his cushion in the cockpit.

Gus is wearing his harness in this photo, but he doesn't always have it on. He knows when we are underway, he is not allowed out, he can be down below in the boat, or in the cockpit, no wandering the decks. If he gets a wild hair, and insists on being out, he gets a leash attached to him, which will remind him of his manners. 

We moved from one side of Sokolof Island to the other, in order to see the July 3rd fireworks. Wrangell does them on the night of the 3rd, because they use the cruise ship dock for set up, and lighting. Then the crew can enjoy the 4th with their families, and the cruise ship dock is used for the boat races on the 4th. Clear as mud? Good.

Wrangell is about 6 miles away, and we had a good view.

Dusk, and lights of the community are coming on.

Not a great photo, but you get the idea, we had a good view of the fireworks, and none of the crowds, bugs, or remaining smoke haze.

The next day, we arrived Wrangell, added more fresh veggies to the larder, picked up our new part, had some good dinners with friends, both local and transient, and headed back out.

 As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.