A Weekend in Alaska

Saturday was Farmer's Market day at Spenard, the first one since we've been back.  This is our favorite Farmer's Market, and we bought swiss chard, fava bean tips, lettuce, tomatoes, snow peas, scallions, a Christmas cactus, fresh flowers, and who knows what else?

After bringing everything home, we got ready to go to Kakwik and Prince William Sound for our first overnight together on the boat -- after a hike first in Whittier up Portage Pass.  The hike affords a great view of Portage Glacier and then a trail down to Portage Lake, with an even closer look at the glacier.  Hiking in Alaska describes Portage Pass as "a gap gouged out of the earth long ago by a lobe of Portage Glacier and opened up for hikers by the glacier's retreat of the last century."  It further says that the Alska Gold Rush brought prospectors in the 1890s, and steamships dropped them off at the foot of Portage Pass, where Whittier is now.  Prospectors headed for Hope and Sunrise on Turnagain Arm, hauling their gear up the glacier with ropes and pulleys.  We were there on a beautiful day, thankfully, but the guide book tells us that wind blasts of more than 120 mph have been recorded through Portage Pass.  

The Town of Whittier and Prince William Sound looking back from the trail

A first look at Portage Glacier from "the knob" on top 

A closer look at the glacier as we drop down towards Portage Lake - a ferry takes tourists out to view the glacier

After the hike, we were close by the marina in Whittier, Alaska, and unloaded our supplies for our boat, Kakwik, to go out overnight on the Sound.  

We didn't take off til about 5 pm, so we wanted an anchorage close by.  Shotgun Cove is a relatively short ride, about 1 hour, and a beautiful anchorage.  We grilled salmon along with vegetables that we brought from home, accompanied by a little wine!  No stars - it's too light by the time we're ready to go to sleep! 

Sometimes Judy gets to be "Captain!" 

A boat we're steaming by on our way to Shotgun Cove -- the Sound isn't what you'd call crowded!

Brian sets the anchor

Brian rowed to shore so we could take this picture of Kakwik anchored.

This is what we're looking at while we're hanging out at anchor!

Judy fixing breakfast "on board"

Brian pulling shrimp pots - we got plenty for dinner and the freezer

Coming back into Whittier

Back to watch the closing of the Olympics after a nice walk on the Coastal Trail with all of the families out on a glorious night -- hard to complain about the weekends here!