Misty Fiords under warm sunshine, scenery OD, and almost all ours alone

June 12^th – we indeed were in the wrong (unmarked) space in Knudsen Cove but since we left as planned by 7 am it did no harm.  Passed Naha Bay up Behm Canal which would have been a better choice if darkness had not caught us because it is not connected by road to Ketchikan boaters. 

Blessed with one of those rare sunny days when Misty Fiords does not live up to its name. The scenery keeps getting better as we go.  Turning the corner at Whaley Point into Fitzgibbon Cove the fiord ahead is lined with tall snow capped peaks.  Saw a dozen fishing boats along the way but only one other cruiser. 

Had Fitzgibbon to ourselves; explored it by dinghy in the sun.  Wishing again for a kayak for a quiet paddle instead.   Delightful dinner and the first half of the Harry Potter video to boot.  Also wishing we had more days as I start to plan the return trip daily runs.

June 13^th – beautiful cruise for a few hours – shorts on the flybridge – down to Walker Cove.  It is as magnificent as promoted, the most stunningly beautiful scenary-weather combination on the whole trip by a whisker.  We were lucky to find the one mooring buoy available.  It is centered in the outlet of the river so the current keeps the boat steady, but be careful as the river sandbanks are surprisingly close past the buoy.  Had to share the Cove with a large yacht that anchored to the southwest of us off the same sand banks.  Their guests went up the river in dinghies or kayaks along the west shoreline.

June 14^th –  another beautiful day, clear and fairly warm.  At low tide the sand banks appeared in all their glory, showing that the main river channel actually winds out northeast of the buoy while the river access the other folks were using actually dries below a few feet of tide with a snag or two in it but otherwise follows the west shore closely.  Popcorn got to run free on the sandbars with no bear worries. 

Stopped in at Rudyard Bay and the Punchbowl, another spectacular spot.  Not as quiet as Walker however: not busy with boats but float planes. 

Need to keep moving south however, so down Behm Canal basking in the sun again, until we passed Smeaton Island that is.  Then a chop built up rather quickly and we ducked below for the rest of the way.  Worked into an 18 inch chop passing Sykes Cove down to Bullhead Cove.  Not as easy to find an anchoring spot in Bullhead as Douglass implies and seemed a little exposed to us (some residual chop came in part of the night).  On the other hand the promised deep sand beach was a delight for Popcorn who is tired of rocky beaches and "drop that mussel" commands.

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