Gig Harbor is both a bay on Puget Sound and a town on its shore. It is located 21 miles south of Seattle and is a popular place for recreational boaters to visit. Not only is it a quick 3 hour boat trip, but there are several good marinas, restaurants, and parks within walking distance... Continue Reading →
Known generically as a Captains License, it is officially a Merchant Mariner Credential issued by the US Coast Guard National Maritime Center. There are different levels. The entry level is an OUPV or Operator of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel, commonly referred to as a "six pack" because it allows you to carry up to six... Continue Reading →
In 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, FDR issued Executive Order 9066 giving authorities the right to remove and confine potentially dangerous or suspicious individuals, including American citizens, from military areas. Anyone who violated the order was subject to imprisonment and fines. They almost immediately decided it was necessary to remove Japanese Americans from... Continue Reading →
Cathleen flew home from Echo Bay and there will be no more crew changes or additions. I am single-handing the final 350 miles home. I really like having other people on board and it is especially gratifying to share this experience with friends and family. None of us had been on a wilderness boating adventure... Continue Reading →
The Broughton Islands Marine Park is broadly defined to include an area between north Vancouver Island and the mainland encompassing some 300 islands and narrow waterways. It would take years to see them all. Its rich history begins with Native villages dating back thousands of years. Clamshell midden beaches are plentiful where the villages once... Continue Reading →
Ketchikan has been a hub for crew changes. This is the third and last time to be docked here. Mark and Linda flew back home and Thomas arrived for the leg to Shearwater/Bella Bella. He and his lovely wife B-Dub are good friends of ours from Redmond. They have seven children so getting away for a... Continue Reading →
Mark and Linda arrived in Ketchikan about two hours before Scott and I were docked so they made their way from the airport to the Arctic Bar in the middle of town. Docking in Thomas Basin Marina was a lot easier than when Alec and I docked here the first time since the wind wasn't... Continue Reading →
Before leaving Juneau, we had lunch outside at The Twisted Fish on a rare sunny afternoon. The place was teeming with cruise ship tourists. Scott and I left Juneau for a short 20 mile cruise to Taku Harbor. We anchored and grilled steaks for dinner. I don't usually take pictures of food, but this turned... Continue Reading →
Sitka is a beautiful little town. We were lucky to have some nice weather to walk around it and take it all in. We took a taxi to the Fortress of the Bear, but they closed early for Fathers Day. Instead, we stopped at the raptor rehab center to see the many eagles, falcons, hawks,... Continue Reading →
After six days in Ketchikan, I was ready to get back out on the water. During this time, there must have been 25 cruise ships come and go, each with a couple thousand passengers to see the sights. They arrive early in the morning and are gone by 5pm. The town seems to breathe a... Continue Reading →
Fiddler 