April 2009 Cruise News
Hi everyone:
We are in Sitka and the sun is shining!!! And...it has been all week!!! Can you tell we get excited when the sun shines? Nice weather brings out the sandpaper and varnish throughout the harbor and nothing is any different here on the Lucretia B. While Chuck puts the finishing touches on the new hydronic hot water heating system, I have been stripping the caprails and revarnishing them. On top of that, we are having a full canvas boat cover made for the boat so the canvas makers are down here a lot measuring and fitting. The cover is to protect the boat from snow and rain during the winter when we'll be gone in the truck and camper.
It is time to get serious about taking the boat out for the summer. There is cleaning up to do after ripping the boat apart to install the new heater and of course, there is all the green stuff growing on the outside of the boat. The engines need to be serviced as do the fishing reels and other "fishing" equipment. We bought some electric downriggers (when we had money) and are eager to give them a try. We are shooting for departure the first week of June with a possibility of a day trip or two before. It would be sooner but I've joined the Baranoff Arts and Crafts Association which means I have to be here the last week of May to set up a jewelry display in the centennial hall. They have a room in the Centenial hall dedicated to handmade "stuff" made in Sitka that is open every day there is a cruise ship in town. They sell my jewelry, take a small cut and I get the rest. This is the first year I've joined so it will be interesting to see what happens.
No doubt you know all about the excitement we had up here in Alaska, what with Mt. Redoubt spewing smoke and ash for weeks. Many flights were cancelled or delayed as a result. As this is being written, the mountain is still active and on watch. This web site has some great pictures.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/04/alaskas_mount_redoubt.html
Alaska Air has a new paint job on a Boeing 737-400. The new paint job is a result of a contest for best design to reflect the "Spirit of Alaska" in celebration of 50 years of Alaska statehood. How many of you out there remember when Alaska became a state and what you were doing? The contest winner was Sitka's 16 year old Hannah Hamberg. Check it out, there are some better photos:
Have a great summer!!!
Chris and Chuck