Sunday, May 28, 2006: Meyers Chuck to Wrangell

After two beautiful, warm, cloudless days, rain and clouds descended upon us as we made our way to Wrangell thru Zimovia Strait. The scenery was lovely, but I guess we were lamenting our rum punch day. Wrangell appeared to be just fishing boats and had very little space for cruisers because the season hadn’t yet opened. The harbormaster found a spot where we could squeeze in together, but it was very shallow. Everyone who came in behind us had to raft to one of the fishing boats, which made it difficult to get off your boat. We chatted with "Uncle Buck," a native Tlingket, who gave us fishing advice for the area. Another guy who was just coming into port on his small fishing boat told us he had broken his back and could no longer fish, but that his daughter just turned 16 and for her birthday he bought her a “permit” (I of course assumed it was a driving permit) and a skiff. It was a commercial fishing “permit” and a small boat. Her first month out she made $2,000. What a great entry into the business world! I immediately thought what a difference there is in the lower 48 when kids turn 16.

We walked thru town looking for a place for dinner and there was very little open. We opted for the hotel restaurant, only to discover after being seated that they didn’t serve wine or beer. We stayed and had an adequate dinner, but wished we had just ordered pizza at the bar above the marina. Everyone had said that it was great pizza. Wrangell didn’t impress us too much, but they did have a clan house and totems right above the marina.