Alaska’s a bust, not a failure
June 17, 2016 by Sundown Sailing Adventures
Sundown in Emily Bay.
I woke the morning we were going to make the next big leap north toward Alaska feeling confident and ready. But as we crossed the north entrance of Raymond Passage out of Shearwater on Denny Island, I had an overwhelming gut feeling we needed to immediately change direction. I said as much to Clay and we did. Rather than continue out and around Price Island and up Hecate Strait, we went the opposite direction up Return Channel (the name was not lost on me) to Emily Bay in Briggs Inlet. It’s a beautiful spot surrounded by granite walls and high forested mountains with a small river at its head. Perhaps, for whatever reason, north British Columbia is meant to be our destination, not Alaska.
To try to understand this, I go back about five years
when we purchased Sundown. We didn’t buy a boat and spend four years rebuilding her with a goal of sailing to Alaska. That thought grew out of landing in Bellingham, which was totally serendipitous. When we looked for a transport company to move Sundown on a
Brownell trailer from Colorado to salt water, we were open to going to either U.S. coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Once we hooked up with
Associated Transport out of Everett, Wash., it occurred to us God led us back to the San Juans to begin this journey. It’s the only place familiar to me as far as sailing goes since it’s where I learned to sail. Alaska was an afterthought and one driven by our starting location and Clay’s experience there in 1980.
Clay kayaked in Prince William Sound (PWS) when he was 17 during a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course. He thought going back would be cool, partly to show me that spot of which he has such fond memories. He also is trying to find a place on the globe that hasn’t been raped by mankind in the name of progress (or making money). He thinks PWS could be it; he remembers it being pristine, untouched. But perhaps it’s changed in the last 35 years. If it’s anything like BC, evidence of man’s greed is everywhere. Here, the logging industry has left vast scars on nearly every mountainside. It’s not unlike the mountains of Colorado, however, where the mining and ski industries have taken their toll.
Clay in Prince William Sound in 1980.
But I digress. Let’s get back to our change of plans, which I feel responsible for. Clay would have been fine continuing on and actually compared his building excitement of going back to PWS to that of a little kid being told he gets to go to Disneyland. He’s disappointed plans have changed, but also had some concerns about being so far out of reach, so he’s okay with our new direction (see paragraph #2).
As we head south, we will keep exploring the vast wilderness of British Columbia on our way. One could spend a lifetime cruising here and not see it all.
Not going the rest of the way to Alaska is not a failed mission; it’s just a change in course. Perhaps Alaska is in the cards for next year…or maybe it’s not.
I daily ask God for clear direction and have really done that as I agonize over this decision. He granted me the sign I needed. After a brief rain shower, a single ray of sunshine shone through the clouds and the entrance to Emily Bay became draped with rainbow.
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Sundown Sailing Adventures 
It takes a certain kind of courage to change course when we are so deeply into a journey. Giving ourselves permission to start each day, even each moment, anew can be scary, but it is also the ultimate in liberation. Fully being someplace will always be better than forever going someplace. The former is NOW. The latter can end up to be NEVER. Rock on, kids!
We’re rockin’ and really appreciate your encouragement! Thanks!
I will always believe that “going with your gut instinct” is the best move. Cheering for you and “Sundown”. =Maine=
Thanks, Mark!
Wise choice to follow your gut, intuition, divine guidance. There are no wrong paths….just different ones. Travel safe!
Thank you for beautifully stating it this way!
We love reading about your travels, and your openness to new adventures!
Happy sailing…..still waiting for a visit😍
When we come south, you’ll know it!
I love reading about your adventures. Continued good luck, fair winds and smooth sailing.