Patricia Thompson
10/01/2009, Kodiak Alaska

Hello from Kodiak. We would first like to thank all of you for your encouragement, support and being with us as we traveled the many miles from Thailand to Kodiak Alaska. We have traveled well over 9000 nautical miles since this past February and, as we put our girl Equus to bed for a long cold winter, we look back with great appreciation and gratitude.
The harbor website where Equus will be berthed: http://www.city.kodiak.ak.us/harbor/Pages/default.aspx

This has been our first experience at winterization since we started cruising 10 years ago. We have become familiar with tropical rains, mold and monsoons, not below freezing temperatures and icebergs, and this has made for an interesting start back in our home country. Although we have been assured that ice does not form in Kodiak harbor because of the high tidal currents, the temperature still can dip quite low. The channel between the two Kodiak harbors had winds over 140 miles per hour last winter, but locals assure us that it only reached 70 to 80 mph inside the harbors! So our in-water winter berthing will be a new experience for us all.

The rigors of the winterization aside, we have been wonderfully surprised with the glories of Kodiak. Of course there are bears, fish, eagles and other north country fauna and flora in abundance, but the real joy for us thus far has been the people. Aside from our scrumptious meals like seafood lasagna, halibut in mustard sauce, salmon in white wine, butter and dill, all fresh of course, the people of Kodiak have been most gracious hosts, welcoming us like family; and the diversity and accomplishments of each family has been amazing.

A succession of immigrants, from the Alutiiqs to the Russian fur traders to the present population of fisherman, teachers, and Coast Guarders has given Kodiak the eclectic personality it shows us today.

We look forward to hearing from you via comments (on our new site) or emails. I have also put the bear pictures on the new site, what an awesome experience, I hope you enjoy them.

Thank you. Patricia and Steve on SV Equus till October 5th, then we head to the lower 48 to play with grandchildren and initiate a land lubbers life.

A reminder of new blog site address: http://sailequus.blogspot.com/
Please be patient because I have much work to do on the new site.

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sail621/ will still be accessible until I get everything switched over.

Comments [1]

Patricia/the day after the low of 50knt + winds went through
09/12/2009, Kodiak Alaska

We arrived on Monday the 7th with overcast sky' in the drizzling rain, a bit disappointed not to get to Geographic which is on the other side of the Strait, but like most of this trip, we were out running weather and heading to safe harbor because a low i.e. storm was heading our way.
We left Wide Bay before sunrise and were safely tucked into a bay on the west side of Kodiak/Whale Pass by 2am the next morning. Anchored, caught a few hours of sleep and then set off to Kodiak/Whale pass at daybreak.
In Whale Pass we motored between scores of sea otters, puffins and many other sea birds, we even passed a whale. The Sea otters were swimming on their backs eating fish and watching us pass like we were there for entertainment.The people in Kodiak met us with enthusiasm and hospitality. We met Rich and his wife Mickey, Rich is retired Navy and has went on to be one of the best weather informants in the area working for National Weather Service. They moved to Kodiak about 10 years ago. Rich was a great help with weather on this passage from Dutch Harbor.
Delivered smoked salmon to Nancy, Elaine's Mom from Adak.
We also met Captain Bill, he and his family moved here from the East Coast some 30 years ago and has several boats and his own fishing business.
His most recent Bear story; an Australian cruising couple (Jill and Matt) who have arrived just a few weeks ahead of us had went to a local bay North of Kodiak for a few days of exploring. On the morning they were getting ready to leave the anchorage there was a bear asleep on their mooring line tied to a tree ashore. They tried to shooo-ed him away but he was not budging. So Matt rowed ashore while Captain Bill kept a shotgun handy just in case the bear tried to attack Matt but fortunately the bear had little interest in Matt and wondered off into the forest.
Another Bear story from Matt and Jill; this took place in Geographic. While they were ashore and exploring a bear decided to have some fun after finding their inflatable kayaks on the beach. He snapped all four of the oars and also poked several holes in the vinyl while playing and tossing the boats around. Finally some people chased the bear away and his fun was over. Needless to say they had a time taping the boats up enough to get back to their sailboat and now have them ashore in Kodiak getting them repaired. I am looking forward to seeing one of these magnificent creatures in the wild. Hopefully bear pictures will follow....

Comments [1]

Patricia Thompson
09/05/2009, 57 26'N:156 12'W, Shelikolf Strait

September 5, 2009 We just dropped our hook by Coal Point, North of Wide Bay on the West side of Shelikof Strait. We were greeted by two sea otters as we approached and many sea birds. It feels like a summer's day here. The warm sun light casts shadows on the birds as we watched their reflections as they would swoop and glide on the water as they flew overhead.
I put a hook over the side to try my luck at catching a Halibut, well the next thing I knew the rod was almost bent in half and as I grabbed it I shouted for Steve to grab the gaff "cause I had a big one". Well I didn't appreciate just how big these fish get and luckily it snapped the line before we even got it close to being on board.
We were both quite relieved, however it was so exciting to see one up close and hook something that big.
Since then we spoke to another cruising couple that caught one and it created such a mess (fish slime all over) and thrashed around so much it almost knocked them off their Norhaven 45 aft deck. That made us twice as happy we didn't have a chance to land it.
They were told to either trail it behind to tire it out or shoot is before bringing it on deck. We are talking serious size here!
Steve is down getting weather for our passage across the strait into Kodiak.
After reading our Alaska bible, Coast Pilot #9 and speaking with several natives, we had anticipated a horrendous passage through the Shelikof strait and even though we are doing no sailing we feel quite blessed with the current weather thus far it has been great.
This life reminds me of my days on the farm when we lived mainly by mother natures rules, however here we also have currents, sea states and winds that drive our days. Well here's to a good nights sleep, after two beautiful nights of a full moon and calm seas passage-life is good!

Comments [1]