Ketch you in Ketchikan

We made it to Ketchikan!   No major events or even challenges; pretty much smooth sailing (motoring).   Today was 38.1 miles at a speedy 7.01kts.   My Alma matter mascot, the venerable Banana Slug, would probably zip right on by us!    Anyway, 7.5kts (8.63mph) is the pace we shoot for.   That’s efficient speed for us at 2.1 miles per gallon.  With 1500 gallons of diesel, that gives us a comfortable range of about 3,000 miles.

Given the price of diesel up here ($3.89/gal) we will fill up sometime on our way back.   We could go the entire summer without refilling.   But, why?

Anyway, Ketchikan…   An interesting town in two parts.   There is the tourist/cruise ship part towards the south of town.   That is separated by a tunnel to the north part, which is the industrial part of the city and where the locals shop and live.   I think it is the combination of these two factors that makes Ketchikan a sustainable, viable town.    Just my musings and $0.03 observations and speculations after all of one day talking with a few locals.

Here are some pictures as we entered Ketchikan from the south.   We cruised past the big cruise ship terminals to our downtown moorage at Bar Harbor Marina.

We ran into Scott and Annie on Marzee whom we met in the yard at PMC in Anacortes a month ago while both our boats were in for season repairs.  They are in the slip next to ours at Bar Harbor Marina.   Small world.   Marzee is in the picture.

In the marina, we found some cool older working boats too...

This afternoon we stopped by the Frontier Shipping store and retrieved packages & mail that we redirected to here.   I received the new 24v solenoid propane valve from my friend, Brent (Thanks, Brent!).   Great.   I installed it and voi-la! - teeny flame at the cooktop.   Argh, you have got to be kidding me!!!   I removed the solenoid valve and reverted back to the direct connection of propane cylinder - regulator - cooktop and I still have the teeny flame problem.   How can this be?   I've bled the system to 0 pressure, restarted everything and still I've got a teeny flame.   I've already replaced the regulator, but maybe that's the culprit again.   How can such a simple system be this problematic!    When I finally figure it out, I'm sure the solution will have been obvious in retrospect...   I can't do anything about it tomorrow, so I'll tackle it again on Friday.

Fortunately, there were no pictures taken of me struggling with the propane system.   Otherwise, I'd have to post warnings about adult content, language, and gestures of massive frustration...   But this is now all mellowed with a glass of good scotch and a pizza for dinner.   All is right with the world again.

Speaking of Friday, our good friends, Bill & Nicki, will be joining us in Ketchikan for 5 days.   We will attempt some salmon fishing, a quick visit to Misty Fjords, and otherwise just hanging out together.

Ciao.