In Taku Bay we found an abandoned salmon canery. Even in its state of disrepair it was somehow beautiful... Shelley cut her walk a little short after she heard (but did not see) a bear growling...
Last weekend we made it to Petersburg, Alaska. Our main reason for visiting Petersburg, (besides it being on our way) was to meet a couple who inspired us before we set off on our journey. Chuck & Laura from SV Lealea, (a 27' monohull) who sailed 7 years ago from Hawaii to Alaska have a series of YouTube videos of their adventure.
From Petersburg we made our way to Ketchikan, Alaska whose claim to fame must be their ability to host massive cruise boats. The morning after we arrived FOUR massive cruise boats docked with anywhere from 3-8000 passengers! The town changed in hours from a sleepy little fishing village to a thriving tourist destination!
Then Shelley went to the SAFEWAY grocery store and ended up in tears because they treated her SO BADLY... Anyone who knows Shelley, knows that she is not easily rattled, but these people did it! They advertised a bunch of the items we wanted at a sale price, but when she got to the cashier they rung in at the regular price... When Shelley questioned it they said she had to have their (free) special membership card to get the discount... So she asked for one... HALF AN HOUR LATER she gave up!
When she got back to the boat, not only did she not get the items for the sale price, but they charged her for a $6 item she never even got! Total loss was more than $15 on a $100 order. Lastly, the kid who bagged her groceries put fresh chicken in her bag upside down and it spilled blood all over the floor of the taxi she took back to the boat! I called the store and the night manager PROMISED that the store director would call us the next morning and straighten everything out.... We are STILL waiting for his call!
WOW!
The next morning we quickly visited the salmon ladder (which was the one thing we wanted to see in Ketchikan), and fueled the boat and moved on...
Yesterday, after more than 40,000 nautical miles, 22 countries and 1,895 days since Blowin' Bubbles left Canada, we crossed the US/Canada boarder as we motored toward Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
What an adventure so far!
Late in the day we cleared customs. We knew we were back in Canada when the overnight slip fee went from $0.57 per foot per night (in Alaska) to $1.40! Needless to say, tonight we are happily at anchored just outside of town.
Prince Rupert is a BEAUTIFUL town! Clearly they know what they want and are going after it. They have a lovely refurbished harbor area that is all set to accommodate any size cruise boat and they are advertising that they are the closest deep water port to Asia. As I write this CN rail is building a second mainline track to get the goods throughout North America quickly and efficiently.
This morning before we left the marina we visited the oldest "still standing" salmon cannery in the world. Carefully preserved, the people who run it are determined to make this a "must see" destination... They are doing a great job.
Even the local city bus driver who took us out there took extra time to be friendly and point out local landmarks along the way.
We will now take the "inside passage" down to Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island. Somewhere around 400 NM. We should be there in a week or so... More soon!
Cheers!
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