The Land of Sky Blue Waters

Some say that the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the crown jewel of Minnesota’s outdoor destinations. If that’s true, then the Superior Hiking Trail is the crown. This 18″ wide footpath extends 286 miles from Duluth to the Canadian Border along the north shore of Lake Superior. The trail winds through a mix of boreal and deciduous forests as it rises and descends from the shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake.

Spending a few nights on the trail with my Darlin’ allowed me to show her what makes Northern Minnesota such a wonderful place to be from.

Coming Home

The ship gets underway as the sun rises and Seattle awakens from its slumber.

I woke at 4:27am this morning. I couldn’t sleep another minute. I was almost home. And I was keenly aware that just across Puget Sound lay my amazing girlfriend, a place to finally put my bags down and the next chapter of my life.

Fourteen weeks at sea in Southeast Alaska brought more incredible sights and experiences into my world than I could ever hope to hold onto, but there is nothing like the feeling of returning home from the sea. It’s not like a plane ride where you step inside a tube in one place and step out again in another, as if by magic. It’s not like a car where the miles churn by in a blurring streak of interstates, gas stations and bad food. Coming home from the sea is one romance drawing to a close and another blossoming. The miles through the Inside Passage drifted by slowly, allowing us to take in every vista and mountain peak. As we cruised, our minds had time to make the transformation from transient sailor to land lubber. Upon our arrival back in the United States, we spent four glorious days in the San Juan Islands and then made our last crossing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was a lake. There was a not a ripple on its surface. The Captain had never seen such calmness in those waters.

It was perfect closure. The ship offered a seamless transition from one world to the next. As the sun rose over the horizon and its golden rays lit up my old friend, Mt. Rainier, I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. This was home. And I was ready.

I flipped open my laptop and typed “Home” into the iTunes search bar. 129 songs flashed back. Apparently home has brought as much inspiration to others as it did to me.

Ballard Locks await to transport us from the salt water of the sea to the fresh of Lake Union.

Captain Marce brings her ship home and guides us into the locks.

My welcoming party

 

 

Move Your Magnets

Safety Bear at the helm

“Don’t forget to move your magnet!” shouts Julie as guests board the skiff for a ride to shore. It’s a mantra that we have come to live by on the Wilderness Explorer. A status board sits on the fantail where guests get on and off of the vessel. One colorful magnet represents every guest and crew member onboard. It’s the tried and true method of making sure that everyone is accounted for before we pull anchor or leave port. It’s also a metaphor.

Kincaid, the man who keeps the props turning and the lights burning.

Another summer season in SE Alaska is drawing to a close and we are headed for Seattle. We are officially moving our magnets from Alaska to the unknown. The 26 crew members of the Wilderness Explorer have spent the last four months plying the waters from Sitka to Juneau and back. They have cooked meals, cleaned cabins, led hikes, made security calls, hauled garbage, explored glaciers, changed oil, served martinis, avoided ice bergs, scrubbed decks, checked voids for signs of danger, made endless cups of coffee and much much more. They did all of this without ever having the possibility of being more than 186 feet from each other. Despite the long hours, cramped quarters and the lack of freedom, the crew embraced Boatworld. And they seemed to thrive on it. They proved themselves day after day by giving it their all and some of them never managed to wipe the ever-present smiles from their faces.

When we hit Seattle and wrap up the ship for winter, we will scatter to the winds. It is the way of the sailor. We spend every minute of every day together and then poof, we disappear from each other’s lives. Maybe that it is part of why we do this. Life on a boat means that eventually we will come back to port. With that arrival we get to begin again and feel the rejuvenation of spreading out in bed, taking a 20 minute shower, sitting alone in the forest and of course….beer, beautiful beer.

This post is a tribute to the 30+ people I had the privilege of working with this summer. From Captain Marce to Ron the Galley Assistant, you were all incredible in your own way and I feel lucky for having had the chance to experience Alaska with you. Take care and see you down the road.

Connie turning one more cabin

Andy getting rid of some extra bits

Kevin taking in the view from the back porch

Copyright © 2015 Randall Tate Photography