Captain Scott's Log ~ Monday, September 15th, 2008

Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 4:01 PM
Subject: Juneau

After Hoonah we went on to Juneau. Passed a large sea lion colony on a small rocky island. We were very close and doing 9 kts under sail when we discovered each other. Lots of excitement from us as everyone ran for their cameras. More excitement from them with bellowing, snorting, and other sea lion outrage. We passed downwind from them---and won’t again as the smell was enough to gag a maggot. Juneau was quiet on our arrival with no cruise ships in (I'm told it was the only day of the year without them). Juneau sits up an old glacial valley which is narrow with very steep sides. The town has equal proportions of fur shops, jewelry stores, and bars--about a hundred of each. The next morning we awoke to find 6 cruise ships in. Oil money was distributed---3000 in cash to every Alaskan resident including children. The Indians went nuts. Jon got off and Gill flew in. It rains every day in Juneau. Today we left in dense fog and headed down the narrow Gastineau channel. Our old VHF died and Tom got us a new one Which Gill brought. Jeff worked franticly to install it as we felt our way out with the hand held, GPS and radar. 3 cruise ships came in past us. Lot’s of chatter on the radio--Fog horns echoing up and down the ravine. The cruise ships materializing out of the mist very close aboard---a puckering experience for a Florida boy.