July 13, 2025, Sunday
As we left Gastineau Channel and entered Stephens Passage, we passed three cruise ships en route to Juneau, which we’d assumed was the busiest port in the region. But upon arriving in Auke Bay, we learned otherwise. Despite the towering liners drawing thousands of visitors downtown each day, it’s Auke Bay that quietly claims the title—less by spectacle than by a steady, purposeful motion. From sunrise to long past dusk, its docks pulse with life: commercial fishermen prepping gear, locals launching toward Taku Inlet, whale-watching crews slipping into the bay’s deeper mysteries. Kayakers glide past, floatplanes skitter across the surface, and the marina hums with a quiet urgency.
The electrical setup at the transient dock where we tied up was unlike anything we’d encountered before. It sat along a main float that stretched at least 450 feet, with finger piers extending roughly 150 feet each. To plug in, you’d need an exceptionally long cable—and even then, the pedestal offered just four outlets. Boats rotated in and out like clockwork; as soon as one disconnected, another glided in to claim the spot. We weren’t able to hook up to shore power, but the big win was that just upland from the marina, we managed to refill our propane tank.
After days of steady rain and somber skies, the sun finally broke through, bathing the channel in warmth and light. The water lay smooth as glass, reflecting a brilliant stretch of blue overhead, and with each mile traveled, our spirits lifted. It felt as if the landscape was smiling with us—inviting, vivid, and quietly triumphant.
On our way today, a group of eleven adventurous souls zipped past us heading south. We often cross paths with folks touring through Dangerous Water Adventures. While most of their trips are based out of Juneau, we’ve spotted groups riding jet skis from Seattle to Alaska at the beginning of the season—and another group makes the return journey south at season’s end. It’s an extraordinary way to travel. Skimming the surface and feeling the rhythms of the water, they seem to have a special closeness with the wildlife, both above and below the waves. We find it all utterly fascinating—but we have no intention of making that trip ourselves. Some adventures are best admired from a comfortable distance.
