We thought long crossings were behind us once we reached the Alaskan peninsula but clearly we were wrong. The mainland is indented with so many large bays that we are often crossing them or hopping from one offshore Island to another on our way NE to Homer. Today we had a 15 mile and a 10 mile crossing, visiting 3 Islands with different characters. A light wind was behind us but dropped away after lunch. The hot sun that we’ve become accustomed to was hidden behind clouds for most of the day and the islands teased us, shrouding themselves in mist, then peaking out from the gloom. Only Castle Cape was free from cloud, a dramatic spine of rock, capped by prominent turrets, looking like a child’s sandcastle in stripy layers. This distinctive landmark marks the entrance to Chignik Bay and the start off a new weather forecasting area.

A hundred seals lay on a gravely beach on our lunchtime Island and we collected water from a pretty waterfall. Now we’re camped on a small pebble beach in between red cliffs being watched by about 20 seals bouncing around in small waves.
Tonight I massacred dinner by burning the salami and seeds that I thought were simmering gently, and melting my spoon. The salami was ok if you imagined it was pork scratchings but the seeds ( and spoon) were beyond hope. Fortunately a very hungry Sarah saw the funny side even after 9 hours paddling.

I’d like to share a poem by a friend Luke about an earlier experience!

The sun shone down upon the bay
The conditions were ideal
And out among the ripples
Was frolicking a seal.
Then suddenly there came a cry
which rent the morning air
“That’s not a bloody seal
It’s a hungry looking bear!”