It is only 3 months away. Departure date. We are getting the schedule sorted out and here is what we know right now.
We depart for the far north on May 1st. We start in Lake Washington on the 1st, through the 4th for opening day at the Montlake Cut. Becky and Mikey are joining us out there as is Jason and Katie, I think.
We depart Lake Washington on Sunday the 4th with Katie and Jason as crew. We will take a couple of days to cruise as far as Sydney BC where our crew will depart either by Victoria Clipper or small aircraft. Katie is voting for Clipper, Jason for small plane.
We will join up with Glen and Liz somewhere in the Gulf Islands probably on Wednesday the 7th or Thursday the 8th.
We will then head north cruising about 4 to 8 hours a day and should be in Ketchikan by May 18. I have to come home the first week of June so I am planning on leaving the boat at Wrangell Alaska. I will be here from June 1 to June 7th when we return and resume our travels
We are going to head a bit west for a week and explore an area on the outside of Prince of Wales Island, Shakan Bay, El Capitan Passage and Sea Otter Sound. Were actually killing time and returning to Wrangell to pick up Becky and Mike on June 14th.
From Wrangell we will probably hang around the area of the Stikine river for a day of fishing. We then head north to Petersburg through Wrangell Narrows. Should be at Petersburg on June 16 or 17. From Petersburg we head north to explore Endicott arm or Tracy arm for glacier and ice berg viewing, stock up on glacier ice for the drinks and stay at Fords Terror. Some more fishing, crabbing or shrimping along the way and we end up at Juneau on June 21.
Becky and Mike depart on June 22.
Sherm and Nancy fly in on June 22.
From Juneau we head north west towards Glacier Bay, Icy Straight, Elfin Cove, the Pacific side of Chichagof Island. wx permitting, Perill Strait, Tenakee Hot Springs, Angoon, Hoonah and various other places to explore.
Sitka on July 3 or there abouts where we pick up Debbie Bailey.
July 4 fireworks in Sitka, fishing and kayaking around that area and provisioning and making any needed repairs for the trip south. Sherm and Nancy Leave from Sitka, July 5
With Debbie we head back through Peril Strait and Gunkhole south along the east coast of Baranof Island anchoring in various protected anchorages, fishing, shrimping and bear watching then exploring Kuiu Island and Tebenkof Bay and the Bay of Pillars.
July 13, Petersberg where we say goodby to Debbie and now have to do all the crew work by ourselves for the first time. The galley slaves are gone.
Start to slowly meander south exploring as we go. After crossing Dixon Entrance explore a different route from the northbound route. At the north end of Grenville Channel take Ogden Channel and the West side of Pitt Island. Explore for four or five days were very few boaters venture. Remote and isolated area.
August 3 to August 17, arrive back in the Broughtons, North end of Vancouver Island. Maybe pick up Buck and Lisa at Port Hardy or they could take a sea plane to Greenaway Sound. Cruise the hundreds of islands in the area and the popular areas for fishing and shrimping.
August 18 head south down Johnstone strait, through the tidal rapids to Desolation Sound
Ed and Jennifer possibly meet us somewhere in Desolation or the Gulf Islands. Spend remaining two weeks cruising slowly south through Desolation Sound, Canadian Gulf Islands and then home by August 30 and Labor day at Long Branch with the club.
Back to work with a grey beard, long hair and bad attitude on September 2.
Thats the plan, we will see how it actually goes.
