Dixon Entrance to Ketchikan

We downloaded the CBP Roam app (Customs Border Patrol) onto Don’s phone. We had used it last year but for some reason we had to re-enter our information. The app is a little odd but it is the best way to get clearance back into the U.S. We could not enter just our Nexus information for identification because my Nexus is expired and I am waiting to get an interview for my renewal. There is no way to put an expired expiration date in so we had to start over. We used our passports as our main identification and uploaded our identification. The app had us use our mobile phone camera to take a picture of our ids.

Communication is between the designated captain of the boat and CBP. We saved our information and we submitted our request not realizing that the submit sends the request to CBP immediately for approval! Because the app does not have you put in a date you are planning on going across you should wait until the night before you plan to start. Within about 15 minutes we had a clearance number via email and we also received a text message. Unless they tell you to come into a customs port you are good to go. They do tell you that you could still be called and told to come in because they do monitor who is coming across. AIS is a handy tool.

AIS is an acronym for Automated Information System. This system was developed for commercial vessels but it is great to have and most recreational cruising boats are now signed up for it. We have both the transmit and receive options so we can see on our chart plotter vessels that are nearby us, what direction they are going, their speed, size and even their name. Other vessels can see us as well because we transmit our data. Well the coast guard and customs patrol officers also use AIS to monitor boat traffic. I enjoy looking up information about the boats that are cruising near us, both commercial and pleasure. Last year we had a VHF call from the BC coast guard to remind us to stay away from a protected waterway, so they are watching!

All fresh produce off the boat, our clearance number with us, we left Prince Rupert at 5:50 am on 6/9. Prince Rupert to Ketchikan is 82 nautical miles and open water most of the way. We were aiming for Foggy Bay to anchor in overnight which is about 50 miles. Dixon Entrance is open water crossing. To get there we weaved our way through Venn passage to Tugwell Island and then staying in Chatham Sound so we would be inside the barrier islands and rocks that help protect the inland shores around Prince Rupert from large ocean swells.

Once we cleared Dundas Island we were in open water. We had a light north wind and flat seas; what a perfect day! We crossed into U.S. Territory and continued up the coast turning into Foggy Bay and anchored in Very Inlet. We arrived at 12:25 pm (6 ½ hours). Wanderlost was already anchored in the bay. A little while later another trawler, Escape anchored near us. We would be seeing them, Eric & Wendy, at various anchorages and ports in Alaska. We had a sighting on the grassy shore in front of us of a mommy bear and two cubs eating and playing. We saw them later in the day as well after they had departed for a nap. Foggy Bay is on a mainland peninsula.

The next morning 6/10 we left at 05:50 am again to continue our journey up Revillagigedo Channel (I have been practicing the pronunciation of it). Weather was calm until we turned at Mary Island where we picked up a 15 knot Northerly causing the waves to be on our nose which was more comfortable than on our beam.

We stopped at Petro Marine in Ketchikan for fuel. The current was strong and it was very windy. Luckily it was putting us on the dock. We took 325 gallons of fuel. We carry 600 gallons, so just a bit over half, which is remarkable. The fuel consumption includes two diesel engines, the generator and the hydronic heater. We never fueled up in Canada.

We arrived at our assigned slip in North Bar Harbor Marina at 11:25 am (5 ½ hours). We had issues with tripping the power every time we plugged in our power cord. The harbormaster said we need an isolation transformer. Humm, we wondered why so that started our internet search to find out more.

Part of the marina (including the slip we were in) had been upgraded to ELCI, acronym for Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter. When adding new shore power kiosks or upgrading existing shore power connections Leakage Circuit Interrupter devices are installed. What the heck is that? In Alaska and Washington marinas are required to equip new shore power service with ELCI protection. This is similar to GFCI protection that we have in our homes for kitchen and bathroom circuits.

We are a 50 amp boat but we use an adapter to a 30 amp power cord. We find our 50 amp power cord is heavy and we are fine using only 30 amps. However, using an adapter can cause ELCI to detect a leakage. Don was able to get the power on by turning off our AC circuits, then plugging into shore power and then turn on our AC breakers one at a time. This worked but we did trip the power a couple of times while we were there. Don will have to investigate this further when we get home. Boats build after 2015 will most likely have ELCI protection. Having ELCI will protect against stray current corrosion and electrocution by detecting current leakage and turning off the AC shore power connection.

I went off exploring Ketchikan with Tom and Robin from Wanderlost while Don and Bosun stayed at the boat. We took the free shuttle to Totem Pole Museum which was the end of the line for the shuttle. The totem poles in the Heritage Center were created by carvers during the height of totem pole carving on the Northwest Coast, between the middle and the end of the 19th century. They are preserved as they were found at the village sites. Though all of the poles are severely weathered, much of their original detail survives as testimony to the skill and sophistication of their carvers. Some still have traces of original paint; portions of others were obscured by moss and other vegetation that took root in the wet wood of the totem poles as they slowly decayed over time.

From the museum we wandered through the fish hatchery along Ketchikan creek until we came to the Creek Street historic boardwalk perched on pilings long it’s banks. A former Red Light District where both men and salmon swam upstream to spawn. It is now a quaint place to tour the Dolly’s House museum, view totem poles, shop at locally-owned stores and galleries, and enjoy local art and culture. In the summer months salmon gather by the thousands to spawn upstream; seals and otters are never far away with eagles perched in the trees above.

We met Don for lunch downtown at the Bar Harbor Ale House, nearby the cruise ship terminal docks. It was a nice afternoon. We were right at the cruise ship terminal docks. The restaurant was surprising not busy because the tourists go back to their ship to eat! Don and I did a little shopping and then took a taxi back. I was dropped off at Safeway to do my liquor and grocery shopping. I had no wine and no produce. Don told me to get a taxi back to the marina but no I did not listen. I thought well it’s only about 3 blocks or so but when I tried to leave the parking lot with the cart I was stuck. Darn it, they had the locking wheel when you go outside of the boundaries so I had to call the taxi service to pick me up.

This is the Green Island Lighthouse just south of the Alaska border on Green Island and the start of Dixon Entrance going north. In 1902 a steamer carrying 2,500 tons of coal from Vancouver Island to the Treadwell mine in Alaska ran aground on Green Island during a southeast gale. 7 of the 28 men onboard drowned. In 1905 this lighthouse was constructed.

This video is of the bears at Foggy Bay. I know is not easy to see and I had my phone turned incorrectly but I wanted to keep it because it shows the cubs whereas my other videos were only of the mother. I’ll have to see if I can do any editing on the video to fix it.

Here is a video as we are going up Revillegigedo Channel (try pronouncing it, I practiced it). It shows the mountains and how much more massive it all appears because we are closer to the mountains in Alaska.

Cruising to Petersburg

Northern British Columbia