Degrees of Delight

Have you ever tried to describe a picture or a place to someone, but found that words are inadequate? This is the challenge I run into with this blog. How can I convey the experience of arriving at a spot that is so beautiful it brings a tear to the eye? Especially after a long day of travel in the boat, it is an other-worldly experience to shut off the drone of the engine, and in the silence, fully soak in and appreciate surroundings so lovely you couldn’t have dreamed them up. The gratitude wells up, and the soul is filled. But this isn’t the only delight.

We had a busy and fun start up to our travels this year: First there was a Krogen boat owners’ rendezvous that we attended in Sidney, British Columbia. Krogen owners tend to be very down-to-earth cruising types. Helpful, friendly, full of stories, these people do not fit the stereotype of the snobby yachter. These rendezvous are where we find helpful tips ranging from Krogen idiosyncrasies and modifications, to the best places to catch fish. Particularly helpful is the opportunity to chat and discover who will be traveling in similar areas during the summer months. It is comforting to know who is “out there” with you, in case of emergency. Sidney is a great town with a nice variety of restaurants, and Krogenites are a delight to hang out with, so the rendezvous was an enjoyable way to start the season.

From there we picked up some dear friends who have cruised with us for a week every year since we became boat owners. These friends are not only fun, but they have exhibited courage and good humor, especially during the summer that we were complete rookies! They keep coming back for more, so it must not be too scary. This year we took them to one of our favorite spots in British Columbia, Princess Louisa Inlet. The spectacular granite cliffs rising from the water, rainforest green mosses, and the many rushing waterfalls tumbling into the sheltered fjord make this a truly awe-inspiring place. It was our delight to share it with friends. We did our first bear watching of the season there, as two black bears foraged along the water’s edge at low tide.

After our friends departed, we turned northward with purpose.  This is an Alaska year after all!  It takes a long time to travel the full west coast of British Columbia to reach Alaska, but we didn’t want to shortchange our BC time either.  So instead of just moving north, we zig-zagged from east to west a bit, to take in some places we hadn’t yet seen.  One of the daily stops unexpectedly turned out to be one of “those” places.

Big Frypan Bay is not very big, in fact it is tiny, and a bit shallow too. Voyager just fit, and we did a quick calculation to make sure the low tide wouldn’t leave us high and dry. Everything worked out, and we shut off the engine. The first thing we saw was a mama duck with 3 ducklings. She wanted to get them away from us, so they swam diligently after their mom. They were so tiny, yet they swam with every ounce of speed they could muster. We had a grass covered ledge of rock on one side of the boat, and on the other side, a charming window through rocks and bushes, where we could see through to the bay next to us. The hidey hole was large enough to kayak through. The water was crystal clear, and yet an amazing emerald green. A river otter swimming nearby provided entertainment. What a delight to be tucked into this beautiful place!

We returned to a favorite spot for our 48^th anniversary. Khutze Bay features a green meadow, and a stunning waterfall. We anchored near the base of the waterfall, enjoying the mighty sound, and occasional windborne spray. As we toasted each other happy anniversary, we noticed a grizzly bear on the shore. We sat and watched him just do his bear thing for a couple of hours. He even went swimming! I can’t imagine a better way or place to celebrate. We were delighted again!

One of our zigs led us way off the beaten path, to Fjordland. As the name implies, it is an area with steep, glacier carved granite fjords that twist and turn for miles. If there is heaven on earth, this place is it. Tall, jagged peaks surround the bay, and you can see more peaks behind these mountains and cliffs, seemingly touching the sky. A rushing waterfall and river. A large green meadow with a river winding through it. And my personal favorite: fields of lupine. Many of my friends and former students know me as the “Lupine Lady,” so this place felt like it was a gift just for me.

I am glad for a camera to remind me of all these places where we’ve experienced delight. I know that our boating seasons will not last forever, but we have a boatload of memories to cherish.

-beth