When I last wrote, we were in Hoonah, (or Icy Strait Point) and since then we have sailed out into the Gulf of Alaska and visited Anchorage, Homer and now, as I write, Kodiak. I have received some nice comments, thank you and 1 or 2 about seeing your Captain on that zip-line; OK, I’ll work on it :-).  

A change in the weather as we crossed the Gulf; the blue skies gradually receded and  it was replaced with cloud, the good news being that the notoriously fickle Gulf remained calm.  Entering the Kennedy Entrance we rounded the Kenai Peninsular and thus entered the Cook inlet, bound for a point off Homer, where we would embark our South-West Alaska pilots before proceeding towards Anchorage itself.

Anchorage has massive tidal ranges and the subsequent current can run up to 6-8 mph; one one is fortunate, one can have the current pushing us along and this was the case this call.  As one nears Anchorage, the water changes from a dark blue to a muddy grey, glacial silt being the cause.  The rise and fall in tide results in having to change the position (deck) countless times during the day.

Thence on to Homer; lying on a spit that juts out into the bay, its main attraction being fishing and some cultural heritage.

The weather changed as we made for Kodiak, after a rainless few days a weather depression moved in and the night at sea saw us in 45 mph winds and driving rain.  Fortunately by early morning, the wind had eased (and, temporarily as it would transpire) the rain eased to a drizzle.  This call in Kodiak, unlike last time, we had more visibility and having berthed, the rain started again; not a pleasant day unfortunately.

 So, after a 7-hour stay, we leave Kodiak and head across the Gulf again, Yakutat Bay and Hubbard glacier beckon us……

Don’t forget one can click on any photo for a larger version and, for those of you not familiar with videos, clicking on the small box, bottom right, opens it to ‘full screen’