Juneau, Auke Bay, Coot Cove & Tenakee Springs

 

Main Attracrtion, far right, moored in Juneau's North Harbor next
 to Star of the Sea, a beautiful big fishing boat operated by the 3rd generation of a fishing family.  

We rented a car in Juneau and Margi & Ginnie went to Costco, Safeway and Foodland to re-provision while Doug and Torben changed the oil in their respective boats.  Good to have the oil changes complete
 as it shouldn't be necessary again until we are back in Seattle.  And it's always good to have enough food and wine on hand.   




Friends, Allie and Brian Peterman (Skylark II) insisted we go to the Red Dog Saloon for "Duck Farts" -- shooters with Bailey's, Kahlua and some kind of nasty brown liquor.  Of course, we all had at least two (or was it 3?)   
Brian was in the Coast Guard in Southeast AK and knew the town
 very well. He shared a personal story about the underwear nailed to the wall (below) but we're not going there....    

The Red Dog is a real classy joint. 

  

 After 2 beautiful days, it finally rained on our last day.  We drove out to the Mendenhall Glacier 

Looking at a chart, you would think that Auke Bay would be a very short run from the downtown Juneau harbors.  But you can't go  north.  It took us 4 hours to reach Auke as we first ran south through the Gastineau Channel before heading north again.  

It was raining pretty hard when we left Juneau and, when we stopped in Auke Bay for fuel, we decided to spend the night in the busy harbor.  Fishing boats were getting ready for a salmon opening the next day and it was abuzz with activity. 

These boats stayed out of the harbor craziness by remaining at anchor just outside the breakwater. 

Leaving Auke Bay the next morning, we rounded Point Retreat, the northernmost position of our trip.  At this point, we had cruised approximately 1250 miles north.  It's here that we began our journey south. 

58 Degrees North

We saw several Orcas along the coast of the Mansfield Penninsula as we headed for our anchorage at Coot Cove in Funter Bay. 

Allie and Brian were nearby so they brought their dinghy over to our boats for drinks and dessert.  Sweet.  

Next stop:  Tenakee Springs (population 100) 

At Tenakee Springs, we were able to get on the small dock. We had met Pat and Sydney on Irish Mist earlier in the trip.  They keep their boat in Tenakee Springs during the summer and they also have a log cabin in the small town.  Sydney took Margi and Ginnie to the Bath House for a nice soak.  We were reluctant at first but, what the heck?   It was really awesome.  

The water was crystal clear and very hot

No bathing suits or other clothing allowed

 Men and women go at separate hours (good thing!)

Doug and Torben were there promptly at 2PM just after we finished.  

The whole bath house experience was sort of like our Friday swim and spa days at the Club....only different.  

Who would have thought you'd find Alaska artist Rie Munoz'  original stained glass in a small community bath house dressing room?   She died last year at age 93 but her son has a cabin in town.  

We were invited onboard Irish Mist for dinner.  Not only that, but Pat pulled his crab pots across the bay and gave us all 8 keepers which he cleaned and cooked.  Very generous and hospitable people!  

Pat and their recently adopted rescue pup, Louie

Sydney with Chester 

Irish Mist on the dock at Tenakee Springs 

Margi enjoyed some freshly cooked crab as an appetizer.  Note Princessa's head on her lap.  She's the other rescue dog in their family. 

We are in Sitka today (Wednesday 6/29)--one day ahead of schedule as Bowhaus has an issue with its port engine that needs professional attention.  Tomorrow,  I hope to catch up and include more pictures that Doug and Margi have taken.  

~Ginnie