I last wrote while docked at Icy Strait Point, or Hoonah.  Our travels have taken us across the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage and I write now from Homer, a small town mainly known for its fishing.  It lies on a long ‘spit’ and dwellings are spread along its length.

The Gulf was kind to us as we crossed; relatively calm seas and not much wind.  Having said that, once into the Cook Inlet, local winds sweep down the valleys and we experienced 35 knot winds briefly as we passed them.  Wildlife has been in abundance, plenty of whales and 2 pods of Orca, unfortunately too far away for a decent photograph, even with my 600mm telephoto lens.

One has to have one’s wits about you for Anchorage.  A terrific rise and fall of tide of over 30 feet results in tremendous tidal currents.  Our arrival coincided with the last of the flood tide and we were fortunate to have ‘only’ 5 knots, at its peak it would be running at 8 or 9, not nice at all.  The only method to dock with these currents is to either turn early on a flood tide, (or late on an ebb) and then, head, (or stern) to current, carefully move sideways towards the dock, all the while controlling the sideways speed.  It has to be a ‘delicate’ operation, the dock, which is quite old, is on pilings and are of questionable condition, a hard landing would not be good at all.

Because of the tidal ‘range’, we are constantly having to change the gangway position, moving it up (or down) dependent on which deck is best (safer) for guests, an unfortunate necessity.

And so, some time-lapses and photographs for you.

Arrival Icy Strait Point, or Hoonah.

Arrival Anchorage

Arrival Homer

Anchorage, as seen from the berth.

The city itself

Docked at Homer

Back to school! The only means of transport for tours and ‘shuttle’

Sea Otter, (it was near the berth in Homer, couldn’t resist it)