Anchors Aweigh

Sunday, 15 August

Greetings from Onion Bay on Raspberry Island! We made it out of Kodiak, the town and the island, but we’re still in the archipelago by the same name. After overnighting in the calm waters of this protected bay, we’ll be crossing over to the Katmai Peninsula tomorrow morning.

Left: Ultimately, the bears will determine where we go on the Katmai Peninsula,
but this is the rough plan Lee has in mind for us.
Right: Google earth image showing our anchorage tonight.

We were up at 6:00a. It wasn’t raining, but the cloud deck was low. We listened for the buzz of aircraft that would signal that the airspace was open, but there was none. Keeping fingers crossed, we went out for a short walk, spotting pigeon guillemots, loons, and a sea lion not far from the boat. When we returned to the Single Star, Lee and Kim were waiting for us. Breakfast was simple – Amish Friendship Bread and hot beverages; the conversation was lively. Lee’s mention of improving visibility had raised our hopes that we’d be leaving in a couple of hours.

Oh no! A low cloud deck greets us in the morning.

Pigeon Guillemot

Shortly before 10:00a, we heard first one, then two, then three planes flying overhead. We ran topside. Yes! Not only were there small aircraft heading to the airport, there was a patch of blue visible through the breaks in the clouds. A few minutes later, we got the message that our boat mates were inbound. Lee set about preparing the boat for departure; Kim left for the airport; and we set out to take photographs around the harbor while the sun was still shining.

I wonder if there’s a tasty tidbit I can steal from here?

I’m a sucker for reflections and there are plenty here for me.

This and that around St Herman Harbor.

Clear skies in one direction; the mist moving in from the other direction.

It didn’t take long for Kim to return with our boat mates in tow. We didn’t waste time with the niceties; a few quick introductions and we were waving goodbye to Kim as the Single Star motored away from the dock.

Mui tapes the arrival of our boat mates.

The light drizzle doesn’t stop us from enjoying the departure views from the flybridge.

After passing under the Fred Zharoff Bridge and exiting the channel, the chop in the open water became pronounced. Transderm Scop patches affixed, we were prepared; better safe than sorry. The chop didn’t last long, though, and once we rounded Miller Point, we were in calmer waters.

Easy fishing! The gulls descend on the wake of the Single Star
to see what we may have churned up to the surface.

from patchy blue skies and a bit of sunshine …

... to a light fog that shrouds the cliffs.

Fog or not; I'm fascinated by the coastal scenery.

the coast undulates in what looks like ever-thickening fog.
it’s just an optical illusion.

The plan for the day called for exploring the waters around Kodiak to give the Shelikof Strait time to die down a bit more. Endorsing the plan wholeheartedly, we turned our attention to the rich wildlife encounters we’d been hoping for since arriving in Kodiak two days ago …