The sun rose this morning to perfect calm, water like a mirror and the mountains reflecting upside down. I had a leisurely breakfast in the cockpit in glorious warm sunshine.
It was a nice easy couple of hours trip down from the anchorage to Sitka where the harbourmaster allocated me a berth for two days. Once tied up I gave the US Boarder protection guys a call and checked in. Foreign boats have a cruising permit and need to check in at each major port along the way.
First stop ashore was the chandlers to get a few spares for ongoing repair and maintenance. When you have a boat it’s a never ending job keeping everything running smoothly. I am replacing a toilet inlet hose and a non-return valve in the bilge pump system – not very glamorous jobs but its easier to maintain now than fix if it goes wrong.
I also need a new strainer for the engine raw water cooling inlet, the type on board is quite old and I am not hopeful of getting a replacement. Anyway I took the old strainer up to the chandlers as a sample. Ah yes he said, I know it exactly, we had one sitting on the shelf over there for eight years – a guy came in last week and bought it! He didn’t know the manufacturer, part number or model it had been there so long the records had been lost. Almost lucky.
The thing I must do this port call is get USA compatible gas bottles. The guy at the chandlery said he had the same problem as me, he got new bottles as there is nowhere to change out valves in Sitka. I will hunt around tomorrow and find a solution, also do the laundry and get some fresh food.
This evening I had a nice shower and am ready to socialise with people again. Tomorrow after my chores I will have a look around town and do the tourist thing – plenty of tourists here with the cruise ships. Laundry is due again and a bit of shopping for fresh food. So far I am liking Sitka. Total voyage distance 1,229.7 miles.
Logged 22nd June 2016
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 
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