Subject: My lazy voyage to Alaska
For the first half of September 2018 shortly after 1st Mate left us my doctor advised me to get away for
a few weeks. With this in mind, and thinking just where to go that would be a good distraction from the
grieving days I opted to take a voyage from Seattle up to Alaska, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. A one-way
trip of around 2000 miles.
Several 1000s of photos captured and I’ve finally culled them to a much smaller set with a few videos.
I made a shareable Album that you can view.
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1AGhtLJ3GhQ16c
I selected to use the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system that was still available in September before the
weather in the Gulf of Alaska Gulf became too difficult for ferry boats. The ferry boat will not attempt
crossing the Gulf of Alaska during Oct through to April - for good reasons.
I chose the Ferry boat for travel as it would give me an excellent feeling for the trip, scenery, an understanding
for the Alaskan locals and their working lives by being able to mix in with them and for it being more cost
effective compared to using the large impersonal cruise ships with their 1000s of people onboard. Plus, I
really wasn’t interested in joining all the festivities cruise ships offer and their expensive accommodations.
On the last leg of my voyage to Kodiak and Dutch Harbor there were less than 20 passengers on my boat.
Most passengers were working Alaskans with just a smattering of normal people like me taking the trip for
the distractions a small ferry boat offers. Meeting with crew members was far more personable IMO.
I had a 27/OB Ranger Tug boat and at first thought I could/should use it for the voyage, but family thought
otherwise even though many RT owners know it would be possible but with a lot of planning
needed and determining all the necessary fuel stops, and so on and so on etc. Doing the trip solo would not
be without some risk obviously. I decided against this.
After reviewing the Ferry schedules I found I could make the trip using the same Ferry boat all the way up
and back. This was appealing as there would be no need to disembark and re-board several times, not
having to learn new boat ‘ropes’, being friendly with Alaskans making the same voyage as me and having
the same cabin for the entirety.
My next thought was could I take my 4-legged friend with me; Jake, a 7yr old Wire Hair Fox Terrier. After
a brief discussion with the Ferry boat ticket person I was told I could take Jake for the huge cost of $40.
Now that was a deal.
Would Jake and me be lonely for the 2+ weeks ? This was answered with two of my grandchildren wanting
to come with me even though it meant they would miss the first part of their school year. So now there
where four of us; Dominic, Petra, Jake and me getting excited about the voyage.
I booked an outside Port-side cabin that had a large rectangular port window and 4 berths, private shower
and head (toilet) and full laundry options. Total cost came to around $5,600 for the round trip for all of
us.
We set off from the Alaska Ferry Terminal in Fairhaven that was about an 1.5 hour drive from home. This
was the same Terminal we would return to some 2+ weeks later.
The linked map shows the Ferry boat’s course.
http://www.alaska.org/maps/view/alaska-marine-highway-kodiak-aleutians-map
Some ports stopped at were during daylight and some during night time. We had a few hours to stretch
our legs at each port and had 4 days on Kodiak Island along with a very exciting side trip on a smaller
boat to see scenery, Orcas and Humpback whales, and 2 days at Dutch Harbor (was a Navy submarine
base in WW 2 and was bombed by the Japanese at one time - an interesting history for sure).
In retrospect the voyage was a great success, it did provide a limited distraction for me but on return
the ‘loss’ feelings returned in force, Jake lost his bark and it took almost 4 weeks to return and the
grandkids had a marvelous time with some interesting times on the boats bridge and the well equipped
engine room. At one point on the outbound trip the boat (per regulations) came to a full stop and took
about 90 minutes practicing the ‘abandon ship’ process much to the delight for all of us with the the
life boats being lowered and circling around.
…surprisingly enough the weather and sea conditions were absolutely in our favor. Misty at times, sunny
at times, no rain, waves no larger than say 2 feet and little wind. Crew told me we were lucky as on
trips they’ve had in the past water/spray would be crashing over the bridge many times and they
would have to deploy the anti-roll vanes.
Enjoy the photos (many taken by the grandkids).
For the first half of September 2018 shortly after 1st Mate left us my doctor advised me to get away for
a few weeks. With this in mind, and thinking just where to go that would be a good distraction from the
grieving days I opted to take a voyage from Seattle up to Alaska, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. A one-way
trip of around 2000 miles.
Several 1000s of photos captured and I’ve finally culled them to a much smaller set with a few videos.
I made a shareable Album that you can view.
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1AGhtLJ3GhQ16c
I selected to use the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system that was still available in September before the
weather in the Gulf of Alaska Gulf became too difficult for ferry boats. The ferry boat will not attempt
crossing the Gulf of Alaska during Oct through to April - for good reasons.
I chose the Ferry boat for travel as it would give me an excellent feeling for the trip, scenery, an understanding
for the Alaskan locals and their working lives by being able to mix in with them and for it being more cost
effective compared to using the large impersonal cruise ships with their 1000s of people onboard. Plus, I
really wasn’t interested in joining all the festivities cruise ships offer and their expensive accommodations.
On the last leg of my voyage to Kodiak and Dutch Harbor there were less than 20 passengers on my boat.
Most passengers were working Alaskans with just a smattering of normal people like me taking the trip for
the distractions a small ferry boat offers. Meeting with crew members was far more personable IMO.
I had a 27/OB Ranger Tug boat and at first thought I could/should use it for the voyage, but family thought
otherwise even though many RT owners know it would be possible but with a lot of planning
needed and determining all the necessary fuel stops, and so on and so on etc. Doing the trip solo would not
be without some risk obviously. I decided against this.
After reviewing the Ferry schedules I found I could make the trip using the same Ferry boat all the way up
and back. This was appealing as there would be no need to disembark and re-board several times, not
having to learn new boat ‘ropes’, being friendly with Alaskans making the same voyage as me and having
the same cabin for the entirety.
My next thought was could I take my 4-legged friend with me; Jake, a 7yr old Wire Hair Fox Terrier. After
a brief discussion with the Ferry boat ticket person I was told I could take Jake for the huge cost of $40.
Now that was a deal.
Would Jake and me be lonely for the 2+ weeks ? This was answered with two of my grandchildren wanting
to come with me even though it meant they would miss the first part of their school year. So now there
where four of us; Dominic, Petra, Jake and me getting excited about the voyage.
I booked an outside Port-side cabin that had a large rectangular port window and 4 berths, private shower
and head (toilet) and full laundry options. Total cost came to around $5,600 for the round trip for all of
us.
We set off from the Alaska Ferry Terminal in Fairhaven that was about an 1.5 hour drive from home. This
was the same Terminal we would return to some 2+ weeks later.
The linked map shows the Ferry boat’s course.
http://www.alaska.org/maps/view/alaska-marine-highway-kodiak-aleutians-map
Some ports stopped at were during daylight and some during night time. We had a few hours to stretch
our legs at each port and had 4 days on Kodiak Island along with a very exciting side trip on a smaller
boat to see scenery, Orcas and Humpback whales, and 2 days at Dutch Harbor (was a Navy submarine
base in WW 2 and was bombed by the Japanese at one time - an interesting history for sure).
In retrospect the voyage was a great success, it did provide a limited distraction for me but on return
the ‘loss’ feelings returned in force, Jake lost his bark and it took almost 4 weeks to return and the
grandkids had a marvelous time with some interesting times on the boats bridge and the well equipped
engine room. At one point on the outbound trip the boat (per regulations) came to a full stop and took
about 90 minutes practicing the ‘abandon ship’ process much to the delight for all of us with the the
life boats being lowered and circling around.
…surprisingly enough the weather and sea conditions were absolutely in our favor. Misty at times, sunny
at times, no rain, waves no larger than say 2 feet and little wind. Crew told me we were lucky as on
trips they’ve had in the past water/spray would be crashing over the bridge many times and they
would have to deploy the anti-roll vanes.
Enjoy the photos (many taken by the grandkids).
