Bjorklund Log: Alaska Trip Day 39

6/24/11

Hobart Bay, Entrance Island, AK

Miles Travelled: 49.5

Today was a long mileage day, but it was a great day. While Tor cooked breakfast, I walked up to the Coffee Hüs for coffee and pastries (what a treat!) and we were on our way out of Petersburg by 8:00 am. The weather forecast was for SW 15 kts, building to 20 kts in the afternoon, so we wanted to make sure we got to an anchorage by the time the wind piped up. We had a couple of different anchorages picked out, one 20 miles away and another 35 miles away in case the weather picked up and things got uncomfortable. Once we got outside of Petersburg and into Frederick Sound the wind was N 5 kts., and conditions were calm and comfortable. We kept expecting the winds to pick up, but they never did, and with the ebb tide and influence of the Stikine river, our speed was boosted at least ½ a kt for the whole day, so we just kept going and going and going, eventually settling on Hobart Bay for the night. After we decided on Hobart bay, we were worried that we wouldn’t get a spot at the State float in the bay since anchorage isn’t practical and the float isn’t that big, the guidebook also said to get there early…no worries. As of writing this at 8:30 pm, we are still the only boat here!

I read in one of the guidebooks that Frederick Sound is (in their opinion and experience) the best place in SE Alaska to see whales. I have to say that based on today, we agree! We saw humpback whales all over the place. They were usually pretty far away, but still super cool to see. Then we had the treat of seeing a HUGE humpback about 100 feet from our boat! It surfaced and was crossing from port to starboard about 200 feet ahead of us, Tor cut the engine so we wouldn’t interfere with it, and then it changed course to come along our port side about 100 ft away. We don’t know if it was checking us out, or trying to get out of our way, but to be that close to a humpback whale was amazing! It surfaced a few times and then turned back to its original course and did a deep dive so we saw the flukes. Of course all the photos I got were taken just at the wrong time, but it was a truly amazing experience. Later, much further in the distance, but still very visible, we saw two humpbacks breaching. They both did it several times and it was a spectacular thing to see. I’ve always wanted to see humpbacks and I got two very cool sightings today. Thank you Frederick Sound!

Language! I think Lars started saying “hi” a couple of days ago, and he may even have said it to a stranger in Ketchikan, but I’m sure he was saying “quack” today. It sounds more like “gak”, but every time I said “quack, quack” when he was holding a toy duck, he said it back. I also heard him say it when he had the duck in his hand and I hadn’t said it. How cool is that?

Odin got his beautiful smile back today and we were so happy to welcome it back! It turns out that I think they were both very tired. The one nap a day transition and 2 mornings ago waking them up early to transit Wrangell Narrows seem to have taken their toll. Both boys fell asleep when playing this morning…that has never happened! I was playing in the after enclosure with them and Lars soon crawled between my legs and fell asleep, I was shocked! Odin was happily playing and so I was only planning on letting Lars sleep for about 15 minutes, just to take the edge off…but then I couldn’t wake him he was so sweet, so I decided to let him sleep for half an hour. After half an hour, I picked him up and he didn’t wake up, so I snuggled with him for a few minutes and by that time Odin was showing signs of falling asleep. So I held Lars while he slept for another hour! And Odin slept next to me for an hour and a half! It was like they were infants again and could sleep anywhere. It was truly a time that I treasured. Later I put them down for a nap, since I knew they wouldn’t be able to make it until bedtime, and they quickly fell asleep for another hour and a half! They also fell asleep quickly for bed at the usual time. One of the sleep books out there says “sleep begets sleep,” and I know it’s true, but this was an amazing sleep day.