June 20

We’ve been on this journey for over a month with two to go.  Each day when I arise I tell myself that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on earth at this time nor with any other person than those I am with.  Each day brings new surprises, new friends and new challenges.

We just said goodby to Connor and Kate as they fly back to Seattle.  We have loved our short five days with them and wish they could have stretched time to allow us more of their company.  They are fun and joy-filled and their happiness spills over into our hearts.

I realized that Tim and I accomplish much alone so the help with stern tying, docking, watches at the helm, iceberg lookouts were dearly appreciated.  Katie was the go-to for everything once on solid ground, successfully navigating us from dock to restaurant, excursions, location of laundry services, all with google maps.  What a relief to have so much assistance.

The four of us rendezvoused for dinner in Juneau with friends from the flotilla, Reinhardt, Sheila and their daughter from London.   Their boat, Ancient Murrelet, was our host for drinks with ice from LeConte Glacier.  The city is packed with cruise ship folks, up to 20k a day.  It must be a boon to the economy but the trinket shops and faux authenticity were a drawback for us.

The next day we four again rendezvoused with another couple, Drew and Katrina from Bella Luca, one of the two fast boats from the flotilla.  We spent the day with them, breakfast, tour of Mendenhall Glacier then Auke Bay.  We sadly said our goodbyes again, as they were heading south back to their homeport in Washington.

All is quiet on Allusion as we prepare for a new leg of the journey.  Tomorrow we’ll venture to Pybus Bay on Admiralty Island just south of Juneau.  We won’t be going to Haines or Skagway, choosing instead to travel to remote places.  Brandon and Annie will floatplane into Kake for a week of cruising the east of Baranoff, then north up through the passage and down into Sitka.  Again, we will be off the grid for a while, anchoring off and sailing as much as possible. 

High pressure appears offshore, which means good weather!  Hooray.  We are monitoring 16 and standing by.