Alaska 2010: Prince William Sound
Sitka to Cordova and Prince William Sound
We started off 2010 in Alaska, celebrating the New Year with a huge blue moon over a tiny bay near Sitka, but worlds away from everything. We were in Sitka for the first half of the year and then sailed north.
The plan was to prepare to head south and to Hawaii early summer this year. But we had several conversations with people in Sitka, where we wintered, similar to those which had brought us to Alaska in the first place, and have kept us here since. It generally went like this, “You’re planning on heading south already? You really need to go to …. (fill in the blank) before you go. These are the best cruising areas in the world!”. And so, we venture farther afield into the beauty of Alaska and true enough, each place is spectacular and we’re glad to continue the trip.
We really loved Sitka and anchoring in the surrounding area. We spent time with our friends there and found it difficult to leave when we set sail for Prince William Sound in July. Before leaving, we went to the Raptor Center, which would likely have been more impressive had we not spent the year viewing tons of eagles up-close-and-personal at the harbor. There is a tree where dozens of eagles can be seen at any given time. Many sailors complain as the eagles like to perch on top of their masts and damage the equipment in the grasp of their strong talons, or simply by their weight sitting there. Still, they are amazing and beautiful and we never tired of seeing them.
We set off for points north on July 1st, with Prince William Sound as our destination. Along the way we visited beautiful Lituya Bay, then Yakutat, where I headed south to San Francisco for two weeks and Craig (inspired by lack of internet and cell service) headed solo up the coast to Cordova. Yep, we saw those grizzly/brown bear prints on the beach (and the bear too!)
We saw the most spectacular scenery and enjoyed hiking and kayaking when we were anchored out. We met new cruising friends, saw lots of dolphins, and explored the area on foot, picking up abundant berries on the way.
And we’re now true Alaskans, as we bought the requisite “Xtra Toughs” the ugly brown though indestructible boots that everyone wears for sailing and fishing and hiking and walking around town and dancing, and… (okay, maybe not dancing).
As we came to the end of the summer (September 6th in Alaska), we considered whether we wanted to sail from Alaska to San Diego and then on to Hawaii, or wait until spring and sail down the Aleutian Islands, past Kodiak and the Kenai Fiords, then set sail south from Dutch Harbor directly south to Hawaii. It wasn’t until the very last moment that we decided to stay and see more of Alaska. I’m so glad we did!
We explored more of the sound and then headed over to Seward (west) and took a slip at the harbor there. In addition to all the sailing, Craig decided to take helicopter lessons up in Alaska, and enjoyed several great sessions in the most awesome locations. I took an introductory flight, which I thought was supposed to be a “scenic ride” but turned out to be a very hands-on get-started lesson!
The fall was amazing in Seward, but then fall became winter rather abruptly…
The awesome Alaskan sailing adventures I shared with Craig ended here for me in Seward. We headed back to San Francisco for the winter, traveled (by plane) “down under” to Australia and New Zealand early the following year, but then spent much of the spring and summer apart… I was working and Craig was on the boat. In September, Craig sailed solo to Hawaii, where he is still sailing and living aboard. We shared Thanksgiving together in San Francisco, but before the start of the new year 2011 our paths diverged. I set my sails and have continued on my own course to cruise around the world.
Craig, many thanks and much gratitude for the time we spent together, for all the sailing (and other) adventures we shared, for the support and encouragement you gave me to start my own business, and for the personal growth that our relationship inspired.