Picture: Downtown Hoonah seen from the sea. The white building on stilts is the grocery/hardware store and the further to right in the water is the brewery.

We left Elfin Cove around noon and arrived at Hoonah about 19:00. Bjorn from S/V "Moon" was waiting on the dock to take our line. We registered with the harbor master (a lady) and then had a quiet evening aboard "Shuang Yu". "Moon" left the following morning for to a free pontoon at Taku anchorage. We stayed because we wanted to have a chance to visit Hoonah.

Hoonah is regarded as a Tlingit community; however, it is not a reservation so many non-natives live there. The "Carving Cave", where dugout canoes are manufactured, is a special cultural place one could visit but it, and the Culture Center, were closed because of a "healing ceremony" at Glacier Bay. Glacier Bay used to belong to the Tlingit people but the federal government stepped in and took over the land for a National Park. The purpose of the ceremony was to forgive and heal a "sore" between the Tlingit people and the U.S. Parks and Recreation Service. We were considering buying a ticket on a motor boat to attend the ceremony but there was no room available, besides we were eager to get to Juneau.

At the time we visited Hoonah there were many tourists on the island. Some came on huge ocean liners and others came on local tourist boats from Juneau. Three miles outside town, near where the liners dock, there is an old salmon canary and wharf. These days the old buildings house a museum, some shops and a few restaurants. Ted and I walked the three miles to have a look. There is also a "zipline" close by. It is supposed to be the world's longest zipline; the cost is about $140.00 a ticket, too expensive for us. Besides, we get enough thrills just sailing the boat.

That evening we decided to go out for a night on the town. First we patronized the brewery and had a few locally brewed beers (one for me and two for Ted). They were quite nice. We sat out on the deck and watched the sun set over the water - very relaxing, and the locals were friendly. After beer, we had a nice halibut dinner at "Mary's" restaurant. We don't go out very often so it was special treat.