Home      Immigrant Stories   Culture     Message Board     Marketplace     Forums      Blogs

Travel
 

Travel Adventures - Cruiser's blog on an adventure trip to Alaska

Page 1 - The Boat and the Crew
Page 2   Provisioning for the boat
Week 1    Week 2    Week 3   Week 4   Week 6  
Week 7    Week 8     Week 9  Week 10   HOME AT LAST

Going on a sailboat trip from Vancouver to Alaska

Week 3  - (note: For those unfamiliar with the towns and villages on the Inside Passage, simply follow the links as they contain good information that would enrich your understanding).
June 26 - Thursday  Anchor at Knumff Harbour
June 27 - Friday  Anchor at Rescue Bay
June 28 - Saturday  Anchor at Khutze Inlet
June 29 - Sunday   Bishop Bay Hot Springs
When we first started on this trip, we can't help clicking our camera at every photo opportunity of majestic mountains, every fjord, waterfall, every eagle, sea otter and dolphin.  By this time, we're OVERDOSED with pristine wilderness and  I am suffering from INTERNET DEPRIVATION.   No cell phone reception all these days, no internet, no stores.  We have to ration our water and our fresh food.

The mountains do not excite us as much, as we know, we will see more, and each scenery just keep getting better.   Now we see dolphins swimming in pods.  Hundreds of them encircling our boat.  Believe me, we just can't photograph them fast enough, the dolphins do not cooperate.

It was rainy, foggy and misty for all of the last few days, but we pressed through, knowing that the best bits are yet to come.  For the first time, I understand what MISTY means.  Just see the photos below.  We travelled miles and miles of wilderness, with no human habitation. Hardly meeting any boats.  The Alaska cruiseship travels the Outside of the passage, to avoid small boats like us.

Our treat finally came on Friday when we arrived at Bishop Bay Hot Springs for yet another hot springs soak.   Bishop Bay Hot Springs is within easy reach from Kitimat, so the springs is more civilized. 

The photos said it all.  We brought our cold drinks and had a relaxing soak. 

 

June 30  Monday     Hartley Bay  click here for more on Hartley Bay
Hartley Bay is an Indian village with a population of 200.   There are no roads in the village, simply boardwalk.  Residents travel using ATV's or scooters.  Hubby was so excited upon arrival, as we are longing for some hamburgers.    We saw pretty little houses, a church, a community centre.  We asked around for a coffee shop - NONE, a restaurant - NONE,  how about a store - NONE, a bakery - NONE.   Finally, we found a white house belonging to a lady selling bread out of her house.  A fresh loaf of bread - that's a treat.
Our friends with their offshore seagoing boat has quite a freezer compartment.  They promised us burgers on their boat one of these days.  Later in the afternoon, when we went for our walk, we were swarmed with Horseflies, millions of them.  We quickly retreated to our boat.   Spent the night watching DVD's. 

Hartley Bay Boardwalk

Hartley Bay residents in their ATV & scooters

July 2   Arrival at Prince Rupert     FOGGY DAY
Prince Rupert is the last provisioning stop for anyway going to Alaska.  Ketchikan where Canadians clear US customs is now 50 miles away.  We started our journey very early at 6:00 am in the morning before the wind comes.  It was very FOGGY once again.  Visibility was poor, I got our fog horn out and blew it a few time.   By 10:00 am we are approaching Prince Rupert terminal in the fog.  There were lots of traffic.  Fishboats.  Pleasure sailboats, powerboats, cruiseships, containerships.....

Page 1 - The Boat and the Crew
Page 2   Provisioning for the boat
Week 1    Week 2    Week 3   Week 4   Week 6  
Week 7    Week 8     Week 9  Week 10   HOME AT LAST

 

Home   Immigrant Stories  Resources   Education   Relationships  Travel   Special Features    About us      Terms of Use     Advertise with us     Contact us  
Copyrights 2007-2010  TML