April fools came and went, but a few got left behind.
Sailboat BOB hosted a couple of fun parties this spring and we figured we'd share a bit of the tom foolery.
We've been threatening Rick and Jen (the legendary founders of Sound Sailing) with a visit Warm Springs Bay Wilderness Lodge for months now.
The trip over the top of Baranof Island is something we really look forward to, but were hoping for the legendary snowfall that has made them famous. It never happened, so we decided that they might as well use up some of their party decorations. We were not disappointed. We arrived and found that the lodge's walls, the king salmon mount, and even Feral the cat all finely decorated for Monique's birthday.
The orca we spotted along the way seemed to have party hats on, too.
As you'd expect, after decades as caretakers of the lodge, Rick and Jen have finally begun to resemble each other. Not sure if this photo does it justice, and we didn't want to say anything - but after a hard winter of not enough snow shoveling, and reading by candlelight, well the times seem to have caught up with them... I'm sure they would love a note of encouragement (or maybe a toothbrush). Their blog can be read at: http://rickandjensblog.blogspot.com/
Monique got to celebrate her birthday at the Baranof Wilderness Lodge with a pack of wild women.
Blain didn't seem to mind too much.
The herring have returned in the millions and every year lay billions of eggs in the seaweed throughout Sitka Sound. Of course you can imagine how popular this all-you-can-eat seafood buffet is. Bald eagles, seagulls, sealions, whales and seabirds pour in from as far away as Mexico and Hawaii for this party.
Our resident sealions are the endangered Stellar's sealions, but we often hear the comical "aur aur aur aur" from a couple of California sealions that try to mix with the in-crowd. Our typical humpback whales are also joined by the far less common gray whales, told apart by their bumpy spines, mellow blows, and mottled skin.
The BOB was so lucky this year to be joined by friends Lynne, Dave and Lisa (and Mig - the dog) for the annual muskeg meadow Easter egg hunt. Lisa and Dave rafted their handsome "Bearcat" to us and we enjoyed a fabulous halibut dinner and chocolate-filled egg hunt. We are working to get the recipe for Lisa's strawberry cream salad dressing, and hope to add it to our fare aboard this summer. Yeah, it's as amazing as it sounds.
The 2015 season is now fully booked from June - August! We are thrilled to have a packed calendar, and can't wait to sail with friends both new and used. A couple of windows remain open in May, and we could add something in September.
Here's what is still available as of April 6, 2015:
May 19-28: Petersburg to Juneau. This 10-day trip also lets us enjoy Petersburg and spectacular Endicott Arm and Ford's Terror Wilderness.
May 31-June 6: Juneau to Sitka. Sail legendary Peril Strait and marvel at the abundant wildife along this popular route. Stay a few days in Sitka after to enjoy the world-class Sitka Summer Music Festival.
If you are tempted by a trip in 2016, best get a hold of us soon. We are hoping to offer four trips in Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm, and have already taken numerous requests.
Please recycle. We ask you to pass this on to a friend or sibling deserving a great holiday.
