(Read more about Wrangell & view the photos.)
In our final Log Blog entry, we're turning our introduction over to some fitting words from one of our fellow travelers:
"I have a new appreciation for the natural world. I understand so much better what drove people like John Muir to explore the most beautiful and rugged parts of our world. I have been bewildered by the incredible beauty of the pristine lands we've travel through. I don't think I can explain how impressive it is to cruise by thousands and thousands of acres forested with tall trees and framed by snow capped mountains. It is so inspiring to see how Canada has protected some of he most beautiful places in the world, being sure to preserve these places long into the future. It is so impressive to travel by water for three weeks seeing untouched land nearly every minute of that time. I have been thrilled to my core watching porpoises play in the wake of our bow, and seeing orca jump just a few hundred yards from our boat…"
This is it.
Our final day together as a fleet, as The Grand Tour 2006: Inside Passage.
There is much to say and express and recount about this journey together - too much for this one entry.
In the first days of the Grand Tour, some of the people who had made the Inside Passage trip before told us how the journey would be a life-altering event. Focused on the here-and-now of keeping our happy fleet moving northward, we admittedly didn't dwell on the import or impact of this sentiment. Yes it will be wonderful; now will someone please pass the tide table for Dent Rapids?
Highlights: too many to recount in one sitting, but here are a few -
> The pride and excitement of watching our 16 boats stream out of Poets Cove to begin the journey, flags and banners flying…
> The incredible weather that greeted us at Prideaux Haven, where we nearly had this jewel of an anchorage all to ourselves...
> The dual joys of awesome scenery and awesome crab served up together at Shoal Bay…
> Lagoon Cove and the water skiing bear (need we say more?)...
> The warm spirit and wide grins that emerged at a simple dockside party during our second weather day at Sullivan Bay (are we a team or what?)…
> The pride of completing our crossing at Queen Charlotte Strait, a barrier that many in our group had not yet surpassed…
> The quiet peace of our sunrise journey through the wilderness of Fitz Hugh Sound…
> Porpoises riding our bow! Whales! Bears! What a trip to Kutze Inlet!...
> 360-degree jaw-dropping beauty at every turn en route to Klewnuggit (cruising between snow-capped peaks that seem close enough to touch - and we're on the flybridge in shorts and a T-shirt!)…
> East Village meets port town at Prince Rupert, for an incredible group dinner celebration at Rain restaurant…
> Losing two beloved friends who stayed behind after their boat suffered damage leaving Foggy Bay; boats can always be repaired, they said - but it's their spirit and companionship we miss the most…
> Our excursion to Misty Fjords. Mist, fjords, and all - and so much more…
> An unbelievable day at little Meyers Chuck - many here called it the pinnacle of the trip - graced by the generosity and contributions of so many from this area, all to show us the best of Alaska…
> A triumphant arrival in Wrangell - they said it couldn't be done, but we showed them!
These memories only scratch the surface of what indeed was a life-altering journey for us and so many others on the Grand Tour. Add to it all the wonderful and generous and funny and charming and gifted people who met and supported us at each stop along the way.
And, of course, this amazing band of fellow travelers. Since around the time we crossed into Alaska, your intrepid blogger has often been asked about our personal highlight of the trip. The first answer is always the same: the way this diverse group of owners, from different places and backgrounds, with different experiences and outlooks, all came together so early in the Tour as a team - not just an assemblage, but a true band of skippers and mates that enjoyed our fellowship together and supported each other whenever it was needed.
It wasn't just the love of a Grand Banks that brought them together; it was a common sense of spirit and respect and adventure and seamanship.
(Then again, maybe that IS what the love of a Grand Banks is all about.)
Today, we added another adventure to our highlight reel: a jet-boat excursion up the Stikine River.
The headwaters of the mighty Stikine, the river known to the native Tlingit as simply the Great River, sits within the Spatsizi - often described as the Serengeti of Canada. The Spatsizi is British Columbia's largest roadless preserve, more than 1.6 million acres (650,000 hectares) There, the headwater lake of Laslui gives rise to a wild mountain stream that flows first east and north before turning west and finally south on its 400-mile (650-kilometer) run for the sea.
Along the way the river plunges into the depths of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, a raging torrent that flows more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) beneath cliffs of basalt and sedimentary rock rising a thousand feet (300 meters) straight up from the water's edge. Below the canyon the river runs wide, cutting through the glaciers and jagged peaks of the coast mountains before finally reaching a pristine estuary.
Once it was busy with riverboats carrying prospectors and supplies to the gold fields of interior Canada back in the late 1800's. Today, much of the area is recognized as an important fish and wildlife area. Moose, mountain goats, brown bear and black bear, deer, and wolves inhabit the area. The delta flats of the Stikine River are a major resting and nesting area for migratory birds. A variety of fish, including king and other species of salmon, are found in the waters of the area. Up to 2000 eagles congregate in the mouth of the river, following a run of smelt.
After our group of GB owners crossed the delta they were greeted by lush greenery, narrow side sloughs, tall snow capped mountains and many waterfalls. Frequent stops were afforded for photo opportunities, and everyone kept an open eye for bear and moose, deer, birds and other wildlife.
When John Muir traveled the lower third of the Stikine in 1879, he called it a Yosemite a hundred miles (160 kilometers) long, and he counted some 300 glaciers along its tortuous course. Numerous glaciers still grace the river valley and are accessible from the main river; the jet boats moved close enough so that owners could actually touch big chunks that had calved from these frozen rivers of ancient ice.
Back in Wrangell many called the excursion a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seems to be the theme of this whole Grand Tour, apparently.
The final event for the whole group was tonight's "Grand Finale" banquet. Actually, the first stop before the banquet was for an early-evening "yachtini" party at the Wrangell Elks Club. Once again generosity reigned supreme as local fisherman contributed fresh catch of salmon, halibut, shrimp and more to a bountiful buffet, all cooked and prepared by the kind folks at the Elks. (And there were salmonberries in the martinis…)
Then we were off to the Stikine Inn, where our fireside room overlooked the harbor at Wrangell and out toward the Stikine river. A wonderful dinner served up by Bill and Jared and the crew at the inn was punctuated by frequent remarks from Tour participants. Praise and recollection of favorite moments flowed from table to table, as well as a few more poetry gems from Buck and Jeff and Wolfgang.
In the end, no one was in a hurry to leave; the group lingered for a good hour after our dinner's conclusion, with fond and heartfelt good-byes, promises to meet up elsewhere in Alaska or back at home.
We were touched by the deep gratitude and earnest wonder expressed by each participant. Everyone seemed to share a similar sentiment, that the Tour was more then they ever dreamed it would be.
In the end it was difficult for all of us to see each other go. Many owners will continue to cruise Alaska and the Inside Passage for weeks and months to come. A few will be taking a leisurely cruise homeward. All seemed to feel the change in the air, sadness at the thought of disbanding our group - but also excitement to take on the more personal journeys ahead.
There are so many people to thank for this experience, and we're certain to omit a few here in this posting, but any list must start with Susan Bland in her role as Executive Director of the Grand Tour. With her husband, Jeff, the Blands were also generous hosts on their 70 Aleutian and vital forces in the success of the Grand Tour.
Likewise, the Tour never would have come to fruition - or so exceeded our expectations - without the tireless effort and diligent attentions of Michele Weingeist. In her role as event planner and coordinator, Michele made sure that all of our grand plans were realized, and her own creativity blazed through in so many events and activities we'll remember forever. Also - and fittingly - it was Michele's words that graced our introduction today.
Many others made their mark: Margo Wood brought her warm spirit and exceptional local knowledge to all of us on the Tour. She helped set a course filled with beauty and wonder, and provided invaluable insights all along the way. Captain John Kessler kept us moving safe and steady up the Inside Passage, and generously shared his time and expertise while cruising aboard many of the boats along the Grand Tour.
Chef Becky Selengut kept so many of us well fed while demonstrating that on-board cooking can be fresh and creative and as delicious as anything made in our home kitchens. She also kept us laughing with her unique perspective as a novice boater (novice no more, though, and she has proven her stripes on the sea - nice bowline, Becky!).
There are many to thank from the team at Grand Banks as well. Fran Morey and Larry Crouch from the GB service department were invaluable - and we can't stress that word enough - to keeping our fleet running smoothly and safely. With good humor, professional demeanor and superior skill they answered any call for help, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.
Jonathan Cooper, GB Marketing Manager, was responsible for the so much of the look and feel of the Grand Tour; his logos and designs and artful eye graced many elements of this event. In addition, a good many of the wonderful photos on this Log Blog were shot by Jonathan (see www.jbcooper.com for more of his work). He also contributed his skills as a writer to this Log Blog for our leg from Ketchikan to Wrangell (thanks, JC!) And as a vital member of the Grand Tour team he was always Johnny-on-the-spot in so many critical ways.
Also thanks to Toni Proffit back at the home office, who generously loaned her beautiful GB42 motor yacht, Sea Gate, for use on the Grand Tour (enjoy the trip home Toni!). And thanks to everyone at Grand Banks who supported our efforts before and during this remarkable journey.
On a personal note, I want to thank each and every owner and participant on the Grand Tour. The warmth and hospitality you expressed to me along this three-week voyage never ceased to amaze me. This was a rare and wonderful opportunity to spend time on the boats that all of us at GB work so hard to design and build and bring to market, and I wish everyone at our company had the same opportunity. It's a common joke in our industry, filled with long-time boaters, that the least amount of cruising you'll do in life is when you join a boatbuilder; we're all simply so busy behind the scenes that our time on the water seems to shrink away.
So I feel uniquely blessed to have made this once-in-a-lifetime journey, and to have shared the experience with so many GB owners. It will undoubtedly shape my life, both professionally and personally, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to EVERYONE involved along the way.
Finally, thank you for your interest in the Grand Tour, in our adventures together, and in this little "Log Blog" of ours. I hope you will consider sharing your own cruising stories with us, and with the world at large, as you enjoy your Grand Banks in passages and ports around the world. It's what this 50th Anniversary celebration is all about - the incomparable relationship between Grand Banks and owners everywhere, a special bond that takes place whenever you step on board.
Now: where are we going NEXT year?
Your intrepid blogger,
David Hensel
Marketing Communications Director
Grand Banks Yachts
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> GRAND TOUR HOME
> ROUTE MAP
> LOG BLOG
- Day 1: Nanaimo
- Day 2: Pender Harbour
- Day 3: Prideaux Haven
- Day 4: Shoal Bay
- Day 5: Lagoon Cove
- Day 6: Sullivan Bay
- Day 7: Sullivan Bay
- Day 8: Sullivan Bay
- Day 9: Duncanby Landing
- Day 10: Shearwater
- Day 11: Khutze Inlet
- Day 12: Klewnuggit Inlet
- Day 13: Prince Rupert
- Day 14: Foggy Bay
- Day 15: Ketchikan
- Day 16: Ketchikan
- Day 17: Meyers Chuck
- Day 18: Santa Anna Inlet
- Day 19: Wrangell
- Day 20: Wrangell
> DESTINATIONS
> SPONSORS
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