Baby Bear Bay, Sitka, Leesoffskaia Bay

Laura Domela — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 03:54:00 +0000

Airship Goes to Alaska

We left Baby Bear Bay around 9:30am, timing it to get to Sergius Narrows about a half an hour before slack tide. We slowed up and checked conditions through the binocs and it looked fine so we headed through with no issues.

Out past these islands…the Gulf of Alaska:

Tiffani spotted another brown bear on the shore and we went over to get a closer look:

We stopped in Sitka for an hour or so to get a little internet and do some work. We called the Harbormaster (Chuck) and asked if there was a spot where we could tie up for a little bit while we got some provisions, and he made some room for us on the dock between a sailboat and an aluminum fishing boat. He said today (June 30) is just about the busiest day of the year there because it’s the day before king salmon season opens (July 1) and everyone’s very busy readying their boats and stocking up on beer. Chuck was super nice and helpful and didn’t seem stressed at all, considering.

Tiffani and Deke went up to get a few things at the market while we caught up on work, and then we headed out to do a little trolling (caught nothing) on the way to Leesoffskaia Bay. I found this place on the map and the reviews sounded good, so we thought we’d check it out.

Lots of eagles around these parts:

Leesoffskaia Bay is fabulous! We wound in through rocky islets and anchored in the middle of the end of the cove in 20 feet of water. We’re completely surrounded by trees and mountains and eagles flying overhead and it’s SO QUIET.

Today's track from Baby Bear Bay to Sitka, then trolling, then to Leesoffskaia Bay (38 nautical miles):

Ell Cove to Baby Bear Bay

Laura Domela — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:57:00 +0000

Airship Goes to Alaska

We left Ell Cove fairly early in the morning. The first hour or so of our cruise was in some fog, but we still had pretty good visibility. The National Geographic Sea Lion called us via VHF to let us know they were going to exit their cove and cross our stern, then pass to our starboard side.

Here they are passing us:

The fog cleared up before we turned into Peril Strait:

We cooked the last of our rockfish last night and I made rockfish cakes for lunch today (a little mayonnaise, an egg, spices, panko, cooked rockfish, sliced green onion). Deke put together a delicious tartar sauce, and we served the rockfish cakes over a bed of arugula while underway. They were really good!

Deke and Tiffani, scanning the shoreline for bears:

No bears, but we started seeing MANY spouts ahead of us and ended up passing by a very tight pod of about 10 humpback whales traveling east in Peril Strait::

We got to Baby Bear Bay and there were maybe 5 other boats anchored in there, but there was plenty of room. Tiffani and I put together a happy hour snack using the rest of the coho, some creme fraiche, and a little bit of caviar on top of some crackers:

It was a beautiful, quiet evening in Baby Bear Bay:

Tomorrow we'll head on to Sitka for a few provisions, and then we plan to explore a few nearby anchorages for the next couple days.

Today's track (50.7 nautical miles):

Baby Bear Bay – Riveted

Baby Bear Bay, Sitka, Leesoffskaia Bay

Ell Cove to Baby Bear Bay