July 28, 2013 - "Bye Sandy see ya in Friday Harbor" - "Hello Dante, Deb, and Brian"!

We said our farewells to Sandy and she boarded the same plane that Dante, Deb and Brian flew in on from Seattle.

WELCOME !  DANTE, DEB AND BRIAN !

The first place we go to is

"FORTRESS OF THE BEARS"

"Do you really love me that much ? This is your fourth visit !"

"I am really BEAUTIFUL, ya know? "

"Oh no, it is them again !  Don't you think four times is a bit much?"

 "I am just going to pretend I don't see them and continue to rub my feet"

"Oh, Hi,"  (darn it they saw me !")



Maybe they are Scouts for the NBA !




"How do you like this shot ? "

When we returned to the boat we put Brian right to work!  It was his first time up a mast.
He did a great job!  The man is fearless!

He liked it so much that he wanted to go back up!

Dave's Big Burger!

Even though it seems trivial when surrounded by the magnificent beauty of Alaska, the entire state is "WiFi"challenged.  In my attempts to update this blog connections are few and far between.

The same can be said about the food even though you will never find fresher fish!  Even in the most modest fish and chips place the fish tastes like it is just out of the ocean.  Every once in awhile we have found a good place to eat.  Such is "The Bay View Pub" in Sitka.

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS !

"MY BOAT IS BIGGER THAN YOUR BOAT !

Auk Bay was looking like it was being invaded with huge luxury yachts one bigger than the other !  I did some investigation on the Internet to try to figure out who these people could possibly be.  To my surprise they were mostly billionaires escaping their infamous past !

M/V Lady Christine 223 ft.
26 Crew Members
Holds 47,424 Gallons of Fuel
Owner: Lord Irvine Laidlaw and Wife Christina
Scotland

Naughty Scottish Lord Laidlaw, multi-millionaire, remains in exile and disgrace after a sexual scandal involving prostitutes, cocaine and a 78 million dollar unpaid tax bill in Britain. His notorious orgies have been aboard the "Lady Christine" which he keeps in Monaco where he also hides from paying taxes.  He crashed the helicopter you can see on the stern of the ship during one of his parties but survived. He has been in several sex rehabilitation facilities and donated 2 million dollars to one to help patients dealing with similar problems.  He resigned from the House of Lords because of the scandals and tax debt.  

S/V Athena 295 feet
18 Crew Members
Holds 103,255 Gallons of Fuel
Owner: James Clark, Founder of Netscape, Silicon Graphics, Healtheon/WebMD 
United States of America

Athena's bowsprit is 45 ft. long.

This Magnificent Schooner is the world's largest. James Clark is a very generous philanthropist donating huge amounts to Stanford University.  He has been married four times.The last marriage is to an Australian model 36 years younger that he.

The Athena is for sale for a reportedly $95 million dollars.

M/V Vibrant Curiosity
26 Crew Members
Holds 75,297 Gallons Fuel
Owner: Reinhold Wurth,  Screw Manufacturer
Germany

The German billionaire who has put his factory workers on short-time and cut their wages. He ordered 1,250 of his 5,000 employees in Germany to reduce their working hours and cut their pay by 15 per cent.  The rest of his workers are being forced to take a solidarity pay cut of five per cent.  At the same time the convicted tax evader christened his new $100 million yacht
 "Vibrant Curiosity"!
While in Auk Bay, the yacht conspicuously anchored outside the break water to ensure his privacy.

EPILOGUE:
There were many more luxury yachts that came and went with similar stories.  They seemed to be in such contrast to the raw natural beauty of Alaska and to the hardworking people of the fishing and logging industries.  Perhaps they needed to experience something "REAL"!  To see the incredible beauty of the wild landscapes and the wonderful creatures that live in them, things that cannot be bought or sold.  Or maybe to see the source of their fine cuisine and those that bring it to their tables. 

Or maybe it was none of the above, maybe it is just another day in their lives!

.

July 26, 2013 - Tenekee to Sitka with Sandy and Dave

Eliason Harbor, Sitka, AK

We start our first day in Sitka with a visit to "The Fortress of the Bears".

It was like going back to see old friends!  Sandy and Dave enjoyed watching the orphaned bears play and do what bears do when no one is watching.

When no one is looking he sticks out his tongue!

She smiles for the Paparazzi !

He sings a song!

She pretends she is an Alligator!

He shows off his claws!

And she ponders her life atop and old stump!

We then visit the "Alaska Raptor Rescue Center"
There are many wonderful stories of recovery and release of injured Raptors.
The birds injured beyond the possibility of release enjoy life in the beautiful surroundings
of the Raptor Center along the Indian River.  They educate the public in the importance of
the  preservation of these magnificent creatures!

We fell in love with "Tootsie" a Northern Saw-whet Owl.  She was sent
to the Center from Craig, AK with a broken left humerus.  The injury was
pinned but did not heal well enough to allow full extension.  She cannot
fly well enough to survive in the wild so she is deemed not releasable.
She has a special place at the front desk of the center.

Hali a female Bald Eagle was born with a deformed beak
.  She could not survive in the wild.



Volta is the "Ambassador"of the center! In 1992 he was found nearly dead
by the harbor in Sitka after he flew into some power lines.  Part
of his wings had to be amputated.  Volta cannot be released into the wild.
Because of his personality, he has traveled all over the United States. He
even rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and has been a guest on 
prime time talk shows.

We head to Halibut Point State Park which is the 
"End of the Road" for the city of Sitka.





We can see thousands of  salmon making their way up the river to spawn.





Dave and Sandy enjoying the view from the bridge

After dinner we meet friends from Friday Harbor at the "Infamous Pioneer Bar"on old 
Katilan Street in Sitka.

On the way to the airport we stopped at our favorite pub and had a shot of Patron as a final fairwell to Sandy.

"Bye Sandy !" We will miss you but we are looking forward to the next adventure!
WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME WE HAD !

July 22, 2013 - Juneau, friend Sandy Roe of Friday Harbor arrives, June 23, 2013 friend Dave Martinez of San Jose, CA joins us.

It was a gorgeous day to take Sandy to Mendenhall Glacier.

We hiked out to the waterfall and enjoyed the cooling spray as we climbed the rocks.

Sockeye Salmon were in the final stages of spawning.  The brilliant color of their bodies shown brightly in the small rivers of melted glacier ice.

Wildlife abounds in the area. Even ducks partake in the feast of salmon eggs.  We saw a beaver dam and the tail end of a small black bear.

This river was choked with spawning salmon.  Artic Terns hoovered over the maze hoping to grab a loose salmon egg.

We departed from Auk Bay and headed up Chatham Strait toward Tenakee and then onto Sitka.
Dave loves to go on deck to photograph the amazing scenery.

From Juneau to Sitka we encountered many purse seiners with their nets outstretched.

The water was calm and reflected the sky on Chatham Strait

When we arrived at Tenakee we broke out the Prosecco!
Rule:  NO ALCOHOL WHILE UNDER WAY!
But as soon as we are safely tied to the dock it is time to relax from the days long passage.

Sandy kept our glasses filled.

We enjoy a evening meal of:
Steamed White Spot Prawns w/
a variety of dipping sauces

Russian Dumpling w/
Butter, Garlic and Parmesan Cheese
Tossed Green Salad w/
Tomatoes, Pears and Celery

We topped off the evening with a glass of
Baileys Mud Slide

July 11, 2013 Tenakee to Hoonah

Hoonah is a Tlingit community with a population of about 800 residents.  As in so many small villages, one store has EVERYTHING!
Recently they have become famous for the worlds longest Zip Line.
http://www.ziprider.com/rides/icy-strait-point/

Wild Honey Suckle filled the air with an amazing fragrance.

Mother Bald Eagle grabs a nap in between feedings. 
The nest has become a directional point in town.
"Go to the Eagles nest and turn left." 
 or "An Elder of Hoonah sells fresh picked berry pies next to the Eagles nest." 

Some very nice Canadian fishermen are cleaning their catch on the dock on the way to Seventh Heaven.

They caught some beautiful Halibut.

The smaller Halibuts are nicknamed "Chickens"

They were very generous and gave John a fillet. I sauteed' it in butter, garlic, black pepper and we had it for hors d'oeuvres.

It was Dorie's Birthday!

I purchased an apple tart from the: "Elder under the Eagles Nest" that we had for her Birthday celebration.

After dinner of my home made Tacos, Dorie and I walked to the only place in the village that has Internet.

The sunset was spectacular!

The "Office Bar"is the only bar in town with the only public Internet.  Each person must consume at least $10 in alcoholic beverages in order for the bartender to come to your device and put the secret password.

On the way back to Seventh Heaven we walked along the shore.  Fish boats are preparing for tomorrows catch.  They cast a perfect reflection in the mirror like water.