Hoonah to Tenakee Springs

Just when you think it can’t get any better! We were 3/4 way through our cruise to Tenakee and we came across 5 whales together that put on QUITE a show. They were leaping out of the water over and over landing with gigantic splashes. One would slap its tail and others would answer. Leap, leap, leap, slap, slap, slap! Over and over. We answered each with a shout of amazement. I would try to capture some of this, but you just can’t. Instead, we stayed present for the show, soaking it in.

Our buddy boat, Cerise, came across the same pod of whales before us but they bubblenet feeding. Tracy has a nice camera, and got some great shots and a video. They chronicle their adventures on Facebook. Follow them at The Alaska Adventure of Cerise 2024.

We had a beautiful six and one half hour cruise from Hoonah to Tenakee. The water was like glass leaving Hoonah. The sun peeked out in Icy Strait, seas smooth. We caught sight of a whale here and there, a few sea otters, and porpoises hunting along the shoreline. We scoured the shore for bears, but unless they are moving they are hard to spot. Also, it was high tide and they are usually out on the shore foraging during low tide. The waters got pretty choppy around Tenakee Inlet, so we were happy that we had left so early.

We tied up at the transient dock here at Tenakee. We were surprised to find that we had power. We filled out the paperwork at the self-pay station at the top of the ramp and took a walk into town along with Dina and Bob from Silverado and Rocky. Tenakee Springs is a quaint town with one main road about a mile long. The only vehicles here are UTVs, which makes sense. The power is supplied by a large generator. They have a post office, museum, community bathhouse, a mercantile, seaplane float, and fuel station here.

I’m sure that Tracy and Rocky will share their adventures fueling up here on their facebook page. There is no dock, you tie up to the pilings and they lower a hose down to you!

The community bathhouse is fed by the springs. You must bathe nude so there are separate hours for men and women. We decided to pass on this opportunity. We are headed to Baranof Warm Springs and they have a private tub and little bathhouse for each bather. I am really looking forward to that one! I hope that there is not a passenger ship there that day!

We are taking a weather day on Saturday. The forecast calls for 4-foot seas and 15-30 knot winds. We woke up to rain and fog – and 3-foot seas already out in Chatham Strait. We are happy with our decision to stay one more day. I am going to do some organizing, bake some bread, and wander into town – I saw coffee and cinnamon rolls advertised somewhere along the walk. Maybe we can catch the mercantile open as well. I might pop my head into the bathhouse and if it is empty and avail myself to a nice long soak!

I did manage to take a soak, we shared a delicious cinnamon roll at the cafe and went to the mercantile (fantastic selection!) There was some free rhubarb yesterday but gone today. I asked the shopkeeper about it and a patron in the shop said we could walk over to the community garden and pick all the rhubarb we wanted. So we did.

I made a rhubarb peach crisp, did some chores, and worked on this blog all while listening to the Olympics. So far I have watched table tennis and fencing. (?!) I am enjoying this weather day.

We are up at 4 am for a 5 am departure for Baranof Warm Springs. Forecast is MUCH nicer today. (haha, windwise anyways). Jim and I remark all the time how this is our kind of weather. We were chatting with someone waiting for their ferry yesterday and I made that comment. He said, “Rainy?”. Haha. No. 60 degrees not over 100 like at home.

Well better get on with our day!

Talk Soon.