Sincerely, Denise

BRUNDIGE INLET TO KETCHIKAN

Monday, June 1^st

Today is my firstborn’s birthday! Happy Birthday Jordo! 38 years ago at Berkeley Hospital.

Today is the last “gate” we have to go through to get to Alaska, Ketchikan being our destination today, about 60 miles. Dixon Entrance is an exposed open ocean leg that takes about 3-4 hours to cross from Brundige Inlet before you are somewhat protected again by outer islands. We had planned to leave at 8:30, but everyone was chomping at the bit to just get it over with after our icky experience the day before. Our back up plan was to turn around and go back to Brundige if necessary. Once again, all the models pointed to light wind, and the offshore buoy was reporting 1 meter and lots of spacing which meant lazy rollers. Things started out rather smoothly for the first couple of hours, but the wind started to build out of the north, and we had some good chop going. We did get some 3 footers here and there, and it was a little lumpy but nothing like the day before, and completely manageable. When we reached Revillagegedo (pronounced “Rah-Villa-Geh-Gay-Dough”) Channel the water smoothed out to nothing and we had a wonderful 2 hour cruise up to Ketchikan from there. First stop was the fuel dock where we had to feed a very thirsty Huntress with enough fuel to last us 6 weeks, then over to our moorage. Once settled on the docks Connie and I walked up to get our rental car, mail, and a stop at the grocery store. We are trying something new this year and are having our mail forwarded to “General Delivery” in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka. We are one for three, as our mail was indeed awaiting us at the post office. Success! We take our mail at an independent Pony Express so they provide custom mail forwarding services which is fantastic for us. Next the group walked uptown to celebrate our crossing and arrival in Alaska! We stopped at the Sourdough Tavern a locals dive bar with good beer and a new fangled juke box that was like a computer screen! Lorraine got us going with some fun music choices and we toasted our successful crossing. Dinner was at The Alaskan Fish House which is down by the cruise ships so a bit touristy, but loved by locals too as it is a really great fish and chips place. We walked Creek Street afterwards, which was where the speakeasy houses were from the 1920s to 1950s. Now it has numerous gift shops and galleries, very scenic setting on buildings built right on the creek – something that Army Corps of Engineers would never approve in today’s world! Great day overall and to boot, a heatwave has hit Ketchikan so it was already steamy hot when we arrived and tomorrow is supposed to be in the upper 80s!