Highlights: a rainy day, mostly spent underway, but clearing in time for stroll through quaint settlement of Tenakee Springs.
Pulling anchor in a downpour. Good raingear is a must for cruising Alaska, including raincoat, rain pants, and tall rubber boots. Rubber boots especially: if you go to shore, anchor, stern tie, etc., you will have occasion to wear the rubber boots almost every day.
And good raingear is doubly important if you boat with a dog in Alaska, and need to get to shore multiple times a day regardless of weather. This is one of those days...
Heading out of Baby Bear Bay for a 2nd time. This proved to be a very convenient and protected anchorage coming or going from Sitka...
Watching out for and staying clear of large kelp beds is recommended. We can power right through the kelp, but the bigger risk beside the potential to clog sea strainers (which could lead to overheating the engine) is that debris such as logs or other debris can gather with the kelp and do damage to the hull, rudder, or prop.
View looking straight up through the hatch over the helm. It is really wet out there today!
We see mostly fishing vessels in Alaska; surprisingly few recreational boats. But today we saw quite a few sailboats...
Periodic rain is fine, as long as wind stays away and waters are calm it is easy going...
Plenty dry and warm inside...
A doe and its two fawns prance along the shoreline...
With clearing, Moxie gets some fresh air riding in the cockpit out back...
Rain showers are almost always followed by some sort of clearing, with fog clinging to the steep mountains providing inspiring backdrops that change constantly...
Cruise ship? No, just another Alaskan State Ferry. Which unlike the new mega-cruise ships as least still reflect traditional nautical design and don't look out of place on these waterways...
The wind blew hard on the exposed dock at Tenakee Spring, where some larger vessels (once again) dwarfed Seaquel.
The "town" of Tenakee Springs is has around 100 residents, and maybe 50 dogs. There is a single "road" (path), about 6' wide (barely wide enough to allow two ATV's to pass). Homes were either waterfront (on one side of the path), or view (on the other side of the path). There is a telephone booth at the head of the dock (no cell or internet service), with a white page listing showing the entire town's residences on a single page.
Along with Hartley Bay, Tenakee Springs is the 2nd such small settlement whereby the primary mode of transportation is ATV. There are no cars, and only two trucks: the fuel truck and the fire truck, both 3/4 ton pickups.
Glen, who worked for Ford his entire career, really enjoyed this "Unmarked Police Car" that doubles as the fuel truck...
A "traffic jam", Tenakee Springs-style!
Besides a preponderance of ATV's, bicycles and cart trailers (to be towed by the ATV's) are also found at nearly every home in Tenakee Springs...
Remarkably, we found yet another Catholic church, St. Francis, in this small settlement although it was closed during our short stay...
It appears that living in this remote outpost requires hard work and doing without the conveniences most Americans take for granted. Plus having a very good sense of humor. As with Hartley Bay, there were "signs" reflecting this humor or irreverence everywhere:
Not so appealing was the actual hot springs for which this settlement is named. This is a natural hot spring which has a structure built around it. Very strong sulphur odor and staining. We passed on this based on appearances:
The fire department looked to be much more tidy than the hot springs...
This is, truly, a "one light" town - although this working stoplight serves only to underscore the residents' sense of humor as there are no intersections in this one-street settlement. Below: Peggy, Pam, Glen, and Ollie waiting for the light to change green. Not because they need to, but because in a small town like this, seeing a stoplight change from red to green would be considered "entertainment"!
A small town may be lacking in many conveniences, but having a bakery & café where folks gather is a requisite...
Regular seaplane service makes Tenakee Springs a destination for residents of Juneau, 70 miles away...
Pam & Ollie enjoy an early evening beach walk...
Rain squalls just north of town....
Yet another reminder of lost loved ones who died making a living off the sea...
Tenakee Springs won our hearts, if not our bathing suits. A nice, unexpected "find", which is one of the thrills of traveling Alaska. Tomorrow we head to Hoonah and Neka Bay where we understand the crabbing is very hot!
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