Disk Cove - Lay Day

/

Today was planned as a lay day in Disk Cove. The more we cruise, the more we find that spending a second day or even a third day in an anchorage multiplies our enjoyment. You have more time to take in the venue during the cycles of tide and weather.

So with the sun shining and the hills above calling us, we set out in the dinghy. I have very few photos of OceanFlyer from viewpoints other than water level. Here is our chance to get a bird’s eye perspective of OceanFlyer in Disk Cove!

Good landing spot to start our explorations

We employed our usual MO of finding a small stream with a good dinghy landing spot nearby, on the east shore. From there, we walked up the stream bed without too much bramble and within 50 feet we’re back in the “open” and able to make our way up the areas with low vegetation.

Looking back from the small creek that is our access point

Disk Cove did not disappoint when it came to great views. We were able too the whole Cove and enjoy the view with OceanFlyer peaceful at anchor.

Even though the “open” areas look solid with their grassy cover, it is more boggy than solid. Our Neos boots continue to perform well. You wear your own shoes inside, so hiking boots make for secure trekking, and they are waterproof yet easy to take on and off. For all this wonderfulness they are a little, or make that a lot goofy looking, but that’s a price worth paying.

Are those Neos really so goofy looking? Yes, but the work great.

We really enjoyed the views of Disk Cove and Louis Bay. We took lots of pictures and then decided it was time to go dinghy exploring outside of the Cove. We headed first to Louis Bay, and it was pretty lumpy. We took the dinghy back into an interesting lagoon. Then Karen made me circumnavigate Disk Island via Foul Passage (not something we’d ever try with OceanFlyer), and we reentered Disk Cove via False Pass as the tide was just high enough.

Karen at our Disk Bay overlook

This will become a large panorama over the forward berth

Dinner was leftover pizza. Bob changed both fuel filters on the engines, and I got the rust that had been bugging me off the bow hawlspipes and spread out our soggy lines to dry. We lazed about, and watched the last season of Damages, breaking occasionally to watch all the little boats come back into the Cove as the evening wore on.

As the sun sets in Dick Cove we get a few neighbors

As the sun sets in Dick Cove we get a few neighbors

Lower Herring Bay to Disk Cove

/

It was a nice morning, and we were ready to move on and see some wildlife. Off to Disk Cove!

Our Ultra Anchor does well in the kelp

The radio has been very quiet this whole trip. All we would hear was the occasional chatter between fishing buddies. All of a sudden, clear as a bell we heard the U.S. Coast guard Sector Anchorage. They reported a 7.1 earthquake in the Aleutian Islands. A tsunami warning was issued for that location but nothing for Prince William Sound. Over the next couple of hours a few of the Glacier Tour boats called the Coast Guard for an update and eventually the Coast Guard issued a statement that there would be no tsunami warning issued for Prince William Sound.

Not long after leaving Lower Herring Bay, we spotted a pod of Orca north of Channel Rock; we were able to watch their movements for a couple of miles as they made their way north. There were 6 to 8 animals, and Karen spotted a mother with a calf. But they were hunting in the shallows, and there was no way we could get close enough for good photos.  

Orca on our heading until they went fishing in the shallows

As we proceeded up to Lower Passage, we were accompanied twice by Dalls Porpoise that ran in our bow wake. One group made a very short stay, but the other lingered for 5 minutes or so. They even stayed with us as I made two course changes on the approach to Disk Cove.

Disk cove has a very narrow, but relatively deep entrance. Once through the doglegged channel, the Cove opens up to a circular bay. The bay is well protected on all sides.

There was a small boat already in the cove as we entered. We anchored in the Northeast corner in 60 feet and got a good set. (Love that Ultra!)  While waiting for a lower tide to be able to make a good landing in the dinghy and try out some of the hikes mentioned in the Lethcoe guidebook, the rain started. It never let up until after 10pm.

That was our signal to do a load of laundry and make pizza.

Around 8 pm we received some visitors into the cove. It was a small converted fishing vessel that was marked “research”, called NoTea. Apparently they do some sort of research on the whales. Shortly thereafter two very small recreational fishing boats entered and anchored in the northwest corner, named Firefly and Save the Day.  All this activity provided us with another “Alaska TV” moment as we tried to write the script behind each of their journeys.

We watched more of Season 2 Homeland before we turned in. As we went to bed, the sky started to show some signs of brightening. If the current weather pattern continues, we might see some sun tomorrow.

 

Barnes Cove to East Bight, Lower Herring Bay

/

Barnes Cove was lovely. This morning was sunny and very nice, so we went for a dinghy ride. It was the first time we demoed our extremely tacky “Karen chair”, a free green folding chair from Sitka that we placed in front of Bob’s bench seat. It made exploration much more comfortable!

Crystal clear morning in Barnes Cove

We headed over to Port Audrey, and saw a nice double masted sailboat. We wanted to visit and learn more about it, but they were already weighing anchor so we settled for a wave. We went into the lagoon, which was very nice, and then came back by the cannery ruins. I wanted to hike, but the tide was falling and there was a lot of metal debris in the water, so we decided to pass.

Off we went to Northeast Cove. It was cute, but not as pretty as Barnes. I wanted to hike, so Bob beached the dinghy at the outfall of a small creek. We followed the creek bed for about 50 yards until we could make our way up the grassy knoll. Great views of Drier Bay!

Boggy ground is the norm so you have to watch your step

We love these walks where we can find a commanding view

In the afternoon, Bob did some preventative maintenance items in the engine room. We timed our departure form Barnes Cove so we will arrive at East Bight in Lower Herring Bay at low tide. We always like to arrive at low tide if there is enough water, because you get to see all the rocks and reefs that uncover.

Remember you too can charter OceanFlyer @ www.NWExplorations.com

The vistas in Prince William Sound seem endless. I figured those mountains are 90 miles away.

Somewhat counter to the guidebooks, we didn't find Lower Herring Bay all that remarkable. East Bight was “OK”, and we crossed a shelf that was shallower than anticipated to get in. We dropped the hook in a 70’ hole with a rocky bottom but got a great set. That was a good thing, because later that night we got some crazy winds that reached 38 knots on the speed meter. Our anchor didn't budge. We watched Season 2 of Homeland and enjoyed spinning about on our firmly set anchor!

Copper Bay to Barnes Cove via Mallard Bay

/

Today is going to be a short 5 mile trip.

We awoke to rain and clouds. Happy summer Solstice!

Our Bayliner neighbor weighed anchor about 9:45 and headed back into Copper Bay, and almost immediately left again on the far left course that does not follow the directions in Lethcoe. They turned left down Long Channel, and we’re still not sure if they left pots in Copper Bay and are coming back later or not. We did not see them again.

Our Bayliner friend makes an early departure from Copper Bay

I (Karen) had planned to go to Barnes Cove in Drier Bay, and we decided to stick to the plan. We have a lovely cruise the short 5 miles to Barnes Cove, with a few porpoise shooting by to say hello. Barnes was empty when we arrived, and we were thrilled to have this lovely cove to ourselves.

After successfully negotiating the narrow entrance, which was easier due to the low tide, we anchored and headed by dinghy to the “beach”.

Beach art at Barnes Cove

There are many streams coming down from the mountain. Some are wet and some are dry. Our first attempt up a small stream with a just a trickle at the beach was stopped by a series of waterfalls created by fallen logs.

Dead end, too many branches in the way

We walked up another dry creek “cobble” bed about half a mile until we were again blocked by fallen logs and debris.  It was a lot of fun, and we kept our eye out for bear, but saw none.

Walking up the running streams is a bit tricky, but you can make good time versus the woods

The dry cobble bed is like a highway into the forrest

Karen takes a break to have her picture taken

I'll stop here and look for a clear path somewhere else

The cobble beds start at the beach

Barnes Cove is beautiful everywhere you look

OceanFlyer in Barnes Cove

The view from our "porch" in Barnes Cove

I had Bob take me for a dinghy ride just outside of Barnes Cove, towards Mallard Bay, so I could look at the ruins of the Copper Mining activity, and then we settled in for a peaceful night.


Whale Bay to Copper Bay

/

It was sunny and calm when we awoke in Whale Bay. Braving the bugs, we went out exploring in the dinghy. We enjoyed a lovely waterfall, and checked out the moraine, the area near the creek, and went behind the “island” at the head of Humpback Cove.

Last night we had a beautiful alpenglow on the mountains

Last night we had a beautiful alpenglow on the mountains

Spectacular views abound in Whale Bay

OceanFlyer "sittin' pretty" in Whale Bay

OceanFlyer in the morning sun of Whale Bay

Looking back into Whale Bay from Humpback Cove

Weighing anchor, we drove over to Orca Cove, an alternate anchorage in Whale Bay, to see what it was like. There were several kayakers there, one who was fishing for dinner from his kayak. Orca is nice, better protected from winds but lacking the glorious vistas of Humpback Cove.

Our destination was Knight Island, probably Copper Bay. The ride over was dead calm, and we just had to dodge a few icebergs. We searched for whales, but no joy. The only other boat we saw was the kayak delivery ship “Blue Medicine.” On our trip, skies were crystal clear, and we could see Montague Island’s mountains covered in snow over 25 miles away. It was also clear enough to see to the College Glaciers about 60 miles away. Stunning!

Can you say calm waters

Can you say calm waters

Icebergs are never far way in these waters

One of a kind Prince William Sound views

We turned up Long Passage, which is a very pretty and narrow passage that feels more like British Columbia, with green hills on both sides. We surprised a porpoise that was snoozing, but didn’t get any bow wave riders.

We first took a look at North Copper Bay, but it was really open and you had to be very close to the shore to find suitable waters to anchor with enough swinging room.

Next we worked our way into the anchorage outside Copper Bay. There is on shallow spot to get over and we saw no less than 12ft at a zero tide. We anchored in the 73 foot hole shown on the charts and loved it. We had great views in all quadrants while still feeling “cozy” in our spot.

Since the tide was still low, we did not take OceanFlyer into Copper Bay itself, but we did scout it out in the dinghy.

It is comprised of two very large bowls with high mountains in all quadrants. There are three streams, and it would be possible to anchor in front on one of them, having the flow from the stream keep you off the shore.

We were tempted to hike the cobble path up the stream

There is also a nice waterfall that we were able to bring the dinghy right up to, almost touching its little rock pile at the water’s edge. The water is crystal clear. The granite here is much lighter than in the south, which makes the water appear even clearer. There were grottos along with the waterfalls.

Karen checks out one on the many streams &waterfalls in Cooper Bay

We scoped out the entrance channel described in the PWS guidebook. Pretty much as described. Doable with care, but needs higher tides.

All this stream needed was a bear

All of a sudden, as I was making meatloaf for dinner, a big Bayliner named Bella Vita from Whittier came through our anchorage, passed us, and made a bee-line for Copper Bay. Instead of leaving the large islet to his starboard as per the guidebook, he left it to his port and hugged the shoreline into the anchorage. It was high tide.

For a while we could see him motoring around. We were thinking he might be tending the pots we saw inside the bay or setting new ones. We also saw a deer swimming out to one of the nearby islands.

Around 8 pm the wind came up and continued gusting to 20 until midnight when it stopped and the rain started.

When I got up to pee around 2am, I noticed that Bella Vita had moved out of Copper Bay and joined usin the anchorage. He had tucked himself along the south shore. The next morning at 9:30 he weighed anchor and disappeared back into Copper Bay. Is he tending his pots? Were the anchorages inside Copper Bay not tenable in the winds? We will never know.