Sun Glorious Sun in Ketchikan Day 15

The early forecast tells us there is a break in the weather late this morning with high winds returning in the afternoon. 

 Our plan is to use instructions we received several years ago from Vic Kucera (a friend of Larry’s who used to keep his Krogen in Ketchikan) to better position ourselves for crossing the Dixon Entrance on Tuesday morning.  We depart after breakfast hoping that the seas have had time to calm.  We navigate through Venn Passage on the morning ebb with 11 feet of tide still remaining.  The higher water level makes the passage almost too easy.   

We work our way north to Port Simpsom with the intention of crossing Portland Inlet to Winter Inlet on Pearce Island.  This would be our final anchorage in Canada on our northbound voyage.  

Dock Street

Europa hailed us on VHS - Passing port side at 17 knots

Casey Moren Habor - sometimes you feel very small

But – the Dixon Entrance is CALM with seas less than 2 feet and we decide to change course and head for Foggy Bay.  The tides are with us and we are making such good time that we adjust our course one final time and set the autopilot to take us to Ketchikan.  Shortly after crossing into US waters the sun comes out and the skies are blue.  After three days in Prince “Rain-port” we celebrate the change!  We try to follow the Nexus rules of checking-in by phone as soon as you enter US waters but there is simply not enough cell service.  Homeland security knows we are here; we will finish the process of checking-in when we get better reception.  The trip is stunning and we see whales in the distance – as many as 4 or 5.   When we are within sight of Ketchikan we again call Customs and are cleared by phone.  We tie up at the City Dock (Casy Moran Harbor) where we find plenty of room.  The Harbor Master brings the paperwork to us and hangs around to provide suggestions about what to do in Ketchikan on a sunny evening.  We walk through town, turn down Creek Street and arrive at a lovely shop of work from local artists.  Both Barrie and I are intrigued by the work being done with artifacts.  We have a late dinner on the boat and head to bed at 10:30 with plenty of daylight left.