We spent over a week in the delightful community of Sitka. One of the fun things we did was go to the "Raptor Center" where they rehabilitate, if possible, injured birds of prey. Many are released back into the wild, but sometimes they can't ever go back, so they are then used for educational programs so people can learn about these wonderful birds. The American bald eagle are extremely plentiful in Alaska. Sometimes they are called "glorified vultures" there are so many.
Bald Eagle wing
On June 24th we departed Sitka, heading back the same way we came, to Ketchikan. Our short term goal was to be in Sitka for the July 4th parade and celebrations. These small communities go all out, and it is quite a family affair. The parade is so small, they in some years, actually have it go around the block and come back thru a second time. If it rain, which it did, no one let's that stop them. As a matter a fact, if you let rain stop you from going out, then S.E. Alaska is not for you. For example, Ketchikan has approximate 250 days of rain yearly with an accumulation of over 140 inches per year!! We went back thru the anchorage where we got the crab, intending to catch more. But, the commercial crabbing season had opened, and the crabs of legal size were totally gone, caught by the commercial boats. No crab for us pleasure boaters. Also, we were going to anchor in various anchorages on Baranoff Island, but there were so many commercial fishing boats, we ended back up in Baranoff Hot Springs, Warm Springs. When we first went in there were no commercial boats. That evening the harbor filled with boats!
Purse Seiner Commercial Fishing Boat
Dock at Warm Springs, we are lost in there somewhere
Purse Seiner boats rafted 3 deep at dock
From here we transited back to Petersburg where we had a great time. We met up with 5 other boats and we had a great party on our boat with food and drink. Part of the fun of boating is all the nice people you meet on boats. Most often you meet people you really like and we exchange "boat cards". These are retired boaters business cards with the name, pictures etc. since most of us are no longer working. What is sad is most often you may not see these wonderful folks again. Friendships are short lived.
Our boat at the dock in Petersburg
Petersburg main street
Tired out by the parade
Even have a Rexall Drug store here!
Outside of Petersburg Chuck finally did some fishing and he brought home two Halibut, in the 25-30 lb range. These are small for halibut but they provide a tremendous amount of meat. We vacuum pack the fish filets and put them in our freezer. We must have had about 25-30 meal size packets. They are a very exciting fish to catch, as they fight very hard. Some grow up to well over 200 pounds. Some interesting facts. At a young age they have two eyes, one on each side. One eye migrates over to the other side so they are both on the same side. One side of the fish is black colored and the other side white. After they get very large the males transition and change sex to female!
The successful hunter/gatherer
A nice about 20lb King Salmon
One side of the King Salmon
After enjoying our time in Petersburg and cruising back towards Ketchikan, we arrived back at our slip at the Ketchikan Yacht Club. We flew back to San Diego to visit family for about ten days, then back to Ketchikan. We have been doing boat chores, getting the boat ready for the journey south back to Washington State. In one three day stretch we had about 8 inches of rain. Good thing our home floats!!
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