Alaska Inside Passage

Alaska or Bust

Friday, June 05, 2015TheCambrians


Years ago, we were anchored in a quiet spot along the southern edge of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand having drinks with a couple we’d recently met.  We were chatting away – fixing all the wrongs in the world – when I asked them where the most beautiful place they’ve been was.  Nine times out of ten, the answer is the Tuamotus because of the incredible snorkeling.  But without missing a beat, Dale said Alaska. 

Alaska? 

At the time, it was hard to imagine.  Alaska was literally on the other end of the world and seemed to be completely opposite from the South Pacific . . . cold and wet, for a start.  But the longer Dale spoke about secluded anchorages, snow-capped mountains, rainforests and wildlife, the more I wanted to experience it for myself.

It’s not something I expected or even looked forward to doing.  Our plans at the time were to bring Cambria back to the Northern Hemisphere, a step in the right direction.  But our long-term goal was to transit the Panama Canal to spend some time in the Caribbean and along the East Coast of the US before crossing the Atlantic to cruise the Mediterranean.  Plans are made to be changed, though. And now, here we are, some 6,000 miles and several years later, preparing to cross the border back into the United States and into Alaska ourselves. 

But first we have to get out of Prince Rupert.

Note: This blog entry was originally written on Monday, May 18, 2015.

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