Bearly Made It...

 

Finally, bears in Glacier Bay.   This is our 3rd trip into Glacier Bay and the first time we've seen bears.  This is a grizzly mom & her two cubs.

OK, I know, going from bears, which are cool, to alternators which are not, is a shock to the system.

Troubleshooting the alternator was my 1st mission of the day.  The first thing to do is to ask Copilot (or the LLM of your choice) how exactly to troubleshoot this.  I gave it the model number of the alternator (Baldor 9824-220-ig-bl), my WakeSpeed (500) external regulator model, the boat (Selene 57), and a description of the symptoms.   I then told it no marketing fluff and to give me a simple step by step procedure, including a diagram as to where to put the probes from my Digital Volt Meter and what readings I should expect.

So, with the engine off, I tested the Field Resistance (16 Ohms), which Copilot suggested was high as it should be 2-6 Ohms.   Then with the engine running and the alternator spinning, test the field voltage (11V) and the Stator voltage (13V).   

At this point I noticed that the alternator was working correctly and producing power.   I must have scared it into submission.

Hmmm, I hate intermittent problems.   Fingers-crossed that it stays working.

Underway and looking back up to the mouth of Shag Cove, the cove where we anchored last night.

This is looking back up the west arm of Glacier Bay towards the glaciers we visited yesterday.

And this one is looking northwest as we excited Geikie Inlet.

Overcast, Fog, and serious Rain.   The standard weather trifecta up here in summer.   Fortunately, no wind!

We pulled into South Fingers Bay to anchor.  This was only 17 miles to the southeast (as the boat travels) from our prior anchorage in Shag Cove.
Given the rainy day, we elected to play a game of cribbage.  I got skunked the first round, but not the second.   Susan won both rounds.   Cribbage is new to me and it is essentially Calvin-Ball with cards and pegs.   I swear they make up the rules as we go!
Whenever we stop the boat, I open the engine room door in the master cabin.   This helps the engines cool down and it has the benefit of heating our master cabin as well.  But, it was starting to smell like "oily engine".   

So, I was banished to the Engine Room to clean it.   Here, I am degreasing with Simple Green.  For whatever perverse reason, I actually enjoy cleaning the engine.   I'm sure their is some professional diagnosis for this odd behavior.

But look at that shiny bright white and clean engine!
Late this afternoon, Susan spotted this family of grizzly bears walking along the shore near where we are anchored in S. Fingers Cove.


More bear photos, because who doesn't like bears?   As long as they are over there and not over here.  Did I mention that I'm the slowest member of our crew?

Momma doesn't let her cubs wander more than about 30 yards away.   Why is she so protective?  The biggest predator for cubs is male grizzly bears.   She is protecting her cubs from other bears.

While we were bear-gazing, we saw the fish herding behavior of a flock of ducks.   They pinned the fish up against the shoreline then they coordinated took turns diving and catching them.   I've never heard of behavior like this from any bird - have you?   But alas, no photos...

Master Chef John made his now infamous Clam Chowder again.  I'm told it is a secret family recipe.   If he wants me to deliver them to Juneau, he better hand it over!   It is a long and rather chilly swim from here!

This map shows our route and stops from Petersburg through Glacier Bay.

Tomorrow, we depart at 0500 (5:00am) and head to either Funter Bay or Auke Bay.   The latter is near Juneau.  The decision point will come about noon when we are out in Icy Strait.   If we are getting beat up, we will stop in Funter Bay.   If we feel great, we will continue on to Auke Bay.   Stay tuned for exciting developments.

With an 0500 departure, it's off to bed for us.

Good Night, My Friends.


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