Baranof Warm Spring Bay, June 20

It was just a 12.5 mail run to Baranof Warm Spring Bay, so we didn't leave Ell Cove until late morning, and fished, without success, our way to the bay.






When we got to the public dock fishing boats were rafted
all along both sides of the dock, and there was no room for us.







We went into the lovely little inlet across the bay and anchored at the head end, 57° 04.440’ N / 134°49.657’ W, for the night. We weren't there very long before the resident Hump Back Whale came in to check us out.





The next morning we hauled the crab trap we had set the day before and found nothing but star-fish.







We were all set to head out for Pybus Bay, but decided to go over to the public dock and take on water. There were fishing boats still rafted two deep, but we were able to find a spot in front of Dream Merchant a 45 foot ketch that was commercial fishing. Ken and Val had just come back in after an attempt to cross Chatham Strait to Frederick Sound. They could not make satisfactory way against the big head seas and turned back. There wasn't much sense in Teal going through that, so we decided to hold over until the next day.

We hiked up to the warm spring pools and lake above, along part-trail part-boardwalk. Something we could not do when we were here at the end of May on our way to Sitka, because of snow banks blocking the trail.

There are two pools next to the roaring rapids just above the falls- the upper warmer than the lower pool. Its very picturesque.







We opted to go back to the village and take a soak in the bath house in the same wooden tub, with the view of the mountains, we used the last time.










While at the village we hiked up the new stairs to the cabins in the sky. Ted, husband to Bridgette who works for Skookum Canvas, and did a lot of stitching on our new upholstery, was just getting started on the stairs at the bottom of the hill where we had an interesting conversation with him when we were here last month.




Where in the world can you see a Hump Back Whale swim right up to a dock and do a classic hump back tail up dive. It happens here often.



Tomorrow we head for Pybus Bay on Admiralty Island.

Stay tuned.

George and JoAnne

Ell Cove, June 19

After retrieving our prawn trap off Pt. Benham, and collecting our meager 13, yet good-sized prawn haul, we headed out Hoonah Sound and into Chatham Strait for a very pleasant sunny 38 mile passage down the coast of Baranof Island.







Tide lands are far more scenic in this part of the world than the mud flats of the lower-48.







By the time we made Chatham Strait we had seen numerous Hump Back and Orca Whales. There is certainly no shortage of whales here in South East Alaska.

We saw a couple of commercial fisherman working the area near Kasnyku Bay, so we opted to do some fishing and trolled the afternoon away without any luck.







With scenery like Kasnyku Falls it is easy to while the time away.








We went into the very scenic and tranquil Ell Cove, 57° 11.986’ N / 134° 51.002’ W, named for its shape, and anchored for the night.







We went to pump out our holding tank when we got into Hoonah Sound after leaving Rodman bay. We discovered the diaphragm in the pump had cracked and was leaking during the pumping. I took the opportunity of this anchorage to re-plumb the head so it flushed directly overboard until we could get replacement parts to repair the pump-out pump.

It seems we have head issues every year, regardless how well prepared for repairs we think we are. And it's usually while out in remote areas.

The next morning we headed for Baranof Warm Spring Bay.

More to come. Stay tuned.

George and JoAnne