Petersburg

 Finally after eight nights, a new relay switch for the starboard engine and calm winds we made the 47 mile journey north through the Wrangell Narrows to Petersburg, Alaska. We were really looking forward to this stop because our boat neighbors from San Diego - Chuck and Margarett have a slip and keep their Alaska boat here. Jeff timed our trip just right getting a good current bump in the narrows and ending up at the Petersburg marina at slack tide. The current at the marian can run up to 3 knots and we were told to time it for slack or your boat may not make it into the slip.  Jeff did great and Chuck was waiting on the dock to catch our lines with another DeFever boat owner who we would meet up with later. 

Eagle Saying Goodbye from Wrangell

Wrangell to Petersburg

Entering Wrangell Narrows

Wrangell Narrows

Passed Coast Guard in the Narrows

Passed a Tow & Barge in Narrows

Entering Petersburg

Petersburg Harbor

Pulling in Next to Chuck & Margaret's Boat

Margaret Welcoming us to Petersburg

We were so happy to see Chuck & Margaret and to be greeted by familiar faces. It's been so long since we've been around other boaters we know. We caught up quickly with Chuck after we got the lines secured and he invited us over later for pizza with some friends of his - Bill & Lucy. We gladly excepted and looked forward to socializing with other humans. We have been on our own since April 5th when we left Seattle and even longer if you factor in Covid-19. Some adult conversation would be greatly appreciated. Eager to check out the scene and stretch our legs Jeff and I threw on our tennis shoes and hit the town. 

The city of Petersburg has around 3,000 residence and is an old Norwegian fishing village. The marina is full of fishing boats and the town full of Norwegian remnants. We were fortunate in our delay in Wrangell because it allowed us to be in Petersburg for their big annual Norwegian festival that would be happing all weekend. The town was quaint and charming and had several restaurants and shops. One restaurant in particular caught our eye - El Zarape just like in San Diego. We knew we would be going there at least once to get our taco shop fix. After a nice stroll through town we returned to the boat to freshen up for our pizza party. 

Petersburg Marina

Sing Alley - Downtown Petersburg

Sons of Norway Hall

Old Boat Outside Sons of Norway

Sons of Norway

Downtown - Duel Flags

Totems Downtown

The Familiar 

The pizza party was wonderful and the company even better. Bill and Lucy were like old friends and all of us hit it off right away. We were so happy Chuck invited us to be apart of his friends and welcomed us so nicely. We drank wine, ate pizza and talked for several hours. We said our goodbyes and knew we would see each other again at the festival. Jeff & I bundled up and sat outside on the aft deck and took in our new surroundings. 

Pizza Party

Evening From Stern

Evening 

The next morning was slow and nice. We took our time drinking coffee and soaking in our gorgeous view. Eventually we made our way into town in the rain and did some window shopping which turned into Jeff Birthday present shopping. He needed some new boots and some slip on all weather shoes. He tried on what seemed like thousands of pairs of shoes and eventually decided on his presents. I paid and we headed to El Zarape for lunch. It was good but not San Diego. 

When we pulled in we noticed another DeFever a few boats over (Jim - the owner actually came over and helped us tie up when we arrived) so we decided to knock on their boat and introduce ourselves. Robin and Jim were there getting ready for their upcoming trip and invited us in and gave us the best, most informative information about going to Glacier Bay. They pulled out their charts as I took vigorous notes and explained what to and not to do, where to go and how to approach. It was like having a live guidebook all to ourselves. They were so kind. After a couple of hours we thanked them and went back to the boat. A quick diner later we geared up once again and headed to the festival to listen to some live music in the rain. 

DeFever Like Us

Petersburg Middle Harbor

Concert in the Rain

Viking at the Concert

Friday morning Bill and Lucy invited us to meet them for coffee in town. We gladly excepted and were so happy to be with other boaters and especially ones that were so easy to get along with. After about an hour we hit the festival. Looking at the different vendors and thinking about lunch Jeff got some ceviche while the three of us went back to El Zarape. Can you ever have too much Mexican food? I don't think so. Eventually we found Chuck and Margaret and we watched the parade together. Following the parade there was a herring fish toss. People pair up, stand across from one another and throw a herring back and forth. If you catch it you step backwards making the next throw even further and if you drop it you and your partner are out. It was so fun to watch and unlike anything we have ever seen. Following the herring toss was the shopping cart races. This is what you would expect - line up with competitors categorized by age, hold on to a shopping cart and push it while running to a finish line. This was hysterical. Lots of kids participated and in the pouring rain ran so fast I thought they would wipe out. But none did.  After an adventurous day of Norwegian festivities we went back to the boat for the evening. 

Walking to Festival

Band at the Beer Garden

Norwegian Fashion Show

Viking at Festival

New Muriel Petersburg

Glacier Ice on Display

More Vikings

Helicopter Fly Over to Start Parade

Norwegian Festival Parade

Parade

Kids in Parade

Norwegian Ship 

Shopping Carts in Parade

Vikings

Parade

More Vikings

Herring Toss

Watching Parade in the Rain

Shopping Cart Races

Shopping Cart Races

Beer Tent After Parade

The next day there weren't as many events we wanted to attend like the previous day so we ventured to the Petersburg museum where they have pictures of Lucy's dad and uncle who were some of the first fisherman in this area. It was really fun to see her family in the museum plus learn about the history of Petersburg. Afterward the group (minus me) got free root beer floats at the festival. We made a plan for the next day (today) and said our goodbyes for the evening. When we returned to the boat we faced timed with Randal and Michelle and heard all about the motor homing adventures. It was great seeing them and catching up. 

Jeff Loves the Vikings

Me Talking to a Guy Who Rescued a Duck 

Lucy with Family Photos at Museum

Sadly today is our final day in Petersburg. It's been a busy one so far with lots of boats chores to complete before going to anchor out for a few weeks. I'm doing laundry, cooking, making provisioning lists and will need to market later. Jeff's filled the water and is talking about the route with Chuck getting the last bits of local knowledge before we depart in the morning. Tonight Lucy is making us all Enchiladas for dinner - Halibut for the meat eaters and vegan for me. It will be our final get together before heading out our separate ways. It's been so much fun here and a place we will remember forever. 

Wrangell

 After ten days at anchor we made our way to the town of Wrangell, Alaska. Wrangell is a small town of only 2,300 people and very well known by Alaska boaters. Home to a very large fishing fleet and a boat yard scrambling this time of year to get them all ready to begin their season Wrangell is a nice little town. Heading into the harbor we saw the boat Sea Venture who we watch on YouTube heading out just as we were making our way in. Somewhat disappointed and yet excited we hope to connect with them sometime during our time in Alaska. If it weren't for them we wouldn't know that we could come to Alaska with the Canadian boarder closed. So we owe them a debt of gratitude or at least a docktail. 

Of course it was raining the entire day and we took some time after docking to do some boat chores; laundry, bill paying and cooking before we geared up and walked to the harbormasters office to check in. Pacific Northwesterner's and Alaskans don't seem to notice when it rains and just go about their business in t-shirts and no rain gear as if nothing is happening. Jeff and I aren't there yet. We wore our raincoats and boots and were a bit grumpy about the cold damp raining soaking our pants and making us wet. Work in progress. We decided to save touring for the next day when it wasn't supposed to rain. 

Approaching Wrangell 

Entering our Slip in Wrangell 

Other Harbor Dry at Low Tide

Other Harbor Walking to Harbormasters Office

The next day the boat chores continued. The rain had stopped and we were anxious to walk into town and check it out. After lunch we put on our tennis shoes and made the one mile trek to downtown. There was a quiet charm to it. A mix between quaint and calm. A lot of the stores were closed and/or abandoned I'm assuming due to Covid. We scoped out the grocery stores in anticipation of our upcoming provisioning and got a few things from the hardware store. People were friendly and not a single one of them wore a mask inside or out which was a complete shock to us. Me more then Jeff. He's tired of hearing my complaints about the selfish maskless world out there. The walk was nice and great to stretch our legs after so long on the hook. When we returned we had a long overdue FaceTime with our friends Randal and Michelle and filled them in about our adventures and learned about their big upcoming motorhome trip. It was great to finally have wifi and reconnect with the outside world. 

Trump Rules in Wrangell

Walking to Town

Harbor Entrence 

Junk Yard Walking to Town

Downtown Wrangell

Downtown Wrangell 

Sunset Stern View Wrangell

Yesterday and today we are scrambling to finish up the last of our boat chores and projects before heading out tomorrow. There is cleaning and provisioning, fridge defrosting and minor repairs to the heater still to be completed. Being in port is always nice but also a lot of work too.