Day 18 - Petersburg

The tug we passed in Wrangell Narrows with the Squirrely Barge!


Every size of fishboat can be found here!


In memorium Statue to those who lost their lives to the sea


Ladner Lass looks pretty small next to some of these bruisers


Ravens as large as some dogs


Note the sign on the door


Who names their boat this anyways?



Huh?

Another fine cruising day to Petersburg! How lucky are we! In order to get to Petersburg, we have to use a pass called “Wrangell Narrows” --- which is just that – “Narrow”. There are range markers and buoys all the way through this 20 mile channel with the tide running part way in your favour and the other part against you. Today we are realizing a 4 knot push and a 3 knot against us current, but the trusty . Travelling just ahead of us a US Coast Guard cutter (about 75 feet). We monitor the radio and hear that about ½ way through, the Coast Guard Cutter is pulling over to let by a tug and barge that the skipper of the tug says is a bit squirrely…..not knowing what that means, we also pull over in when we hear that the tug and barge are close to us (all the markers in the channel are numbered so we know he is getting close) --- now we know what the meaning of a “squirrely barge “ is --- the barge was on a short tether to the tug but swinging widely side to side behind the tug. Good thing we pulled over and waited. The tug and barge was an exciting event in our day! Oh - except for maybe Tony who managed to pick up a crab trap in his prop, lucky he was able to cut the rope off and continue on in without having to dive in and cut the rope. It was tax free day in Wrangell today including fuel. Oceanaire decides to fill up to take advantage of the lower pricing. However --- even with the discount, it cost more to fuel up in Wrangell than it cost all of us in Ketchikan! Guess Dave’s not buying dinner tonight! Speaking of dinner --- we ordered Chinese food in for dinner and that was quite the experience. The owner must have been stiffed a lot on his deliveries --- after ordering, he phoned us back and picked up our fella’s to go and pay before he even starts cooking our order – lots of Dine and Dash going on up here?

Petersburg is a town of about 5000. The majority of people in this town are involved in one or another with fishing. The town was settled by Norwegian fisherman well over a hundred years ago. Reading the names on the memorium statues to those who have lost their lives to the sea, there are generations of the same family listed. There is a large seafood processing plant in the heart of town and the docks are filled with all sizes of fish boats. As with most towns involved with fishing, there is considerable slow down here. They get a few small pocket cruise ships in but thus far, this quaint town is untouched by the mammoth cruise lines.