So long, Sitka. Hello, Petersburg

With Bauhaus' port engine fully repaired, we were up and running Wednesday AM, exactly 3 weeks after arriving in Sitka.  Our stop for the night was Appleton Cove on the Northeast side of Baranof Island.  This time, no horseflies. Yay. It was so good to be out on the water again.            



  

Leaving Appleton Cove on a grey, but calm Thursday AM

Hoping for a full afternoon at Baranof Warm Springs, we were up early Thursday and headed south down Chatham Strait.  Unfortunately, we were only able to cruise through Warm Springs Bay and snap a shot of the waterfall.  The small dock was full and so were all of the anchorages.  BWS has become very popular as it offers a natural hot springs at the top of the waterfall and a nice bath house with soaking tubs.  Everyone raves about it.  Another time for us.  



This picture. Is the full extent of our Baranof Warm Springs experience 

With no place to stay and a weather system predicted for Friday, we decided to make it a long day and get across Chatham Strait while it was calm.  This turned out to be a very good decision.  We found dock space in the Native community of Kake on the northwest side of Kupreanof Island.  The handful of people we met there explained that Kake is mainly comprised of subsistence fishermen.  While many boats were obviously being used for fishing,  we found the docks were in better shape than some of the vessels moored there.  Many, it appeared, were abandoned and hadn't moved for years.  But we were safe and secure for the night.

Bauhaus (with the blue canvass) is tied up at Kake 

This boat was right across from Main Attraction at Kake.  We're sure it hasn't moved for years. 

We monitored the weather carefully Thursday night and, at 5 AM Friday, we decided to make the run to Petersburg.  The winds were predicted to  worsen late in the day with  a couple of rough weather days ahead and we'd sure prefer to be stuck in Petersburg rather than Kake.  We arrived yesterday afternoon after smooth cruise that included rain (but no wind) and dozens of humpback whales.  Now it's raining steadily and we'll stay another night with the hope that we can leave Sunday and continue our journey south through the Wrangel Narrows.