Day 85: Salt Lake Bay to Craig

We left Salt Lake Bay this morning on a negative tide, which was perhaps not the best planning with all the rocks that plague entry to the bay. Saying that, we experienced no problems. There was a phantom island on our charts that was in the middle of the passage into/out of the bay that we skirted as if it were there, but never saw any sign of, even on the minus tide. Another reminder that you can’t depend too heavily on your charts!

On our way to Craig we stopped at Klawock, a small village north of Craig.

State float at Klawock

We walked up to their totem pole park, which was on a hill overlooking the bay.

Exploring the Klawock totem pole park. You can see the lumber mill at the end of the bay.

After Klawock, we topped up our fuel on the way into Craig before finding a transient slip in South Harbor. The marinas were pretty crowded with fishing boats. I presume the salmon fishery is closed at the moment, and they’re waiting for it to reopen.

North Harbor, where the larger boats moor, was packed to the gills with fishing boats. Pun intended.

We took a walk around town and looked at the various harbors and the old Craig cannery, which is slowly falling into ruin.

Fishing boats unloading at the city dock

Looking back at Craig from the cannery ruins

After our walk, we had a beer at a local tavern before coming back to the boat for dinner. Craig will probably be our last stop in civilization (I use the term loosely) before we leave Alaska.

Today’s route (30 miles)