We’re underway, heading north from Ketchikan. The weather is still balmy and the views in the sunshine are spectacular.

Here are a series of shots showing what the local scene looks like.

The route from Ketchikan north almost always takes you through Wrangell Narrows, a windy, twisty, shallow, and current-filled cut.

The current splits about two thirds of the way through, so it ebbs and floods north and south at the same time.

If you get it right, you have a push in both directions.

We had 3 knots of favorable current for most of the way from Ketchikan, but we had it against us in the southern portion of Wrangell Narrows.

We didn’t think to photograph the speed through the water and over ground difference at the worst – we were losing 5 knots to the current. Here the hit is down to just 3 knots.

Catching salmon is hard work and these sea lions are taking a break.’

Much of this channel is less than 200 feet (60m) wide, with vertical edges along the channel sides. Not much room to pass. We had to move out of the way of a tug towing a barge, as they were heading downstream. The main tug had a helper tug on the stern of the barge to steer.

A little further north we passed an Alaskan ferry, again heading downstream – and again we moved all the way to the side of the channel.

Vessels heading with the current have a lot less maneuverability than those going the other way.

Here’s the situation the last third. We’re past the point now where the current changes flow, and we’re getting a 3-knot push.

The plan is to make a quick stop in Petersburg, pick up some fresh grocery supplies, and continue north.