28 June - 5 July

Juneau and out to sea

We spent this period in and around Juneau and made contact with Clynt and Jan who had their two boats there. One a 48 foot launch they had driven up from Washington earlier and a smaller new one a 24 foot SeaSport designed for fishing that was brand new and had just been shipped up. So we made the maiden voyages out to the west of Juneau to the edge of the wide Pacific. Some time spent as time out with reading and sleeping (in a confined space) and some salmon fishing then having it fresh off the BBQ for dinner.

The most amazing times were those spent watching sea life up close - pods of up to about 20 huge humpback whales breaching and feeding, sea lions, sea otters, orcas, porpoises - all luxuriating in the nutrient rich waters chanelling into the Inside Passages from the Pacific currents, and particularly as the salmon were starting to gather for their spawning runs into the Alaskan rivers.

Spending nights on board at small isolated docks or the little town of Elfin Cove, a fishing lodge heaven for halibut and salmon. We were extremely lucky with the weather - barely a drop of rain was seen and this is extremely rare for southeast Alaska.

It was time to go and we hopped on a seaplane back to Juneau - just in time for the 4th of July fireworks display and the street march. A bustling day of feverous American patriotism with hand out small plastic american flags - made in China of course. Along with the cruise ship tourists we did the rest of the Xmas shopping (well maybe) and packed the bags.

Last day of Lynnes holiday on the west coast was the 5th July - I flew to Skagway then drove back through Whitehorse to work at Keno, Lynne flew first class to Salt Lake City.

A great holiday ended with a bang.