Friday Funny 1-26/2024 (Scenic Tour Continues)

 

Oops, I missed a couple of Fridays, I actually didn't even remember that I had missed them until Sunday. 😁 I guess that's what being retired is all about. Me-"oh, did I miss Friday again?"

Last post, we ended up in Port Walter in a less scenic bay, (oh horrors), then it's onward to Deep Cove. This time, with no other boats inside the cove, we picked out the most advantageous spot, while keeping us safe from upcoming high winds, and making sure the anchor was well set.

Over the next couple of days, this cove provided shelter to several different vessels, small, and large.

This small vessel came in several times, and looked to be a fishing charter, as they cleaned salmon, and halibut every evening. They have such a shallow draft, that they were almost to the bank when they set their anchor. We set out a crab trap, thinking the fish remains in the water would attract them, but nope, never trapped one, or saw one on the pieces/parts. Conclusion: no crabs in this bay.

Gus, as usual, was keeping track of all of the goings on, making sure that no one anchors too close, or incorrectly. 

We had several heavy rain storms, and the large waterfall grew in size, and sound. According to the chart, if you hike up the hill, there is a large lake at the head of this waterfall. I thought maybe it would be a fun excursion, until we started to see bears around the the shore, and they all headed up into the woods in the direction of the lake. Um, no, I don't need to get between the food source and either black or brown bears.

The next bay on the "Baranof east coast" tour is Gut Bay. While every cruising guidebook says this is a very scenic spot, I couldn't find anywhere how this bay got it's name. Gut Bay doesn't sound like a place I would want to visit, that must be why they emphasize the panoramic views.

We needed a place to anchor that would protect from southern winds, while not placing us in the path of williwaws. (A sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea.) You can hear them coming, it's as if a freight train is headed your way, and then bam, it hits you with force. We've been in them before, and I'm not a fan. The cruising guide suggests another small bay within this large one, but according to the topography, it appeared as if we'd be in the direct path of the wind, so we avoided it. Another little cruiser tucked himself up in there though. 

I loved this one lone tree, it's shape was so perfect it made me want to return in the winter, and decorate it with lights, well almost..... not.

At the head of the bay, there's a salmon spawning stream, the water was so full of fish, you could almost reach in and grab one. Not that I would, by this time, these fish are on their way to the great fish heaven, and totally inedible.

We expected to see bears here, and stayed well away from the shore line, we didn't see any, but that doesn't mean they weren't there.

The next nice day, onward to the next bay: Red Bluff.

A beautiful Chatham Strait day.

Another installment to come, stay tuned. 

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