I didn’t need to count any hurdling sheep to find sleep on this afternoon anchor in Sheep Bay. Dreams came quick, easy, beautiful, bizarre, and untraceable. 

The names of so many landforms and bays we encounter appear randomly and often inappropriately named. Sheep Bay  for instance was named by a guy who saw some goats and thought they were sheep. Many of the homeland names from England, Spain, France, and later America were from some Prince, Queen, or character from their own country who would never get close to this continent. To identify so many amazing places, and not relating much with the natives, I guess  they just had to start pulling names out of a hat. The best names come from the Tlingit and Haida, derived from a story pertinent to the place.

We got underway today after a third swim and hot shower in as many days. Had a stop at the library, and a nice walk back to the Harbor, nodding to a few friendly folks and watching the Raven antics, which always keep me wondering.. Filled up with 86 gallons of diesel at the Cordova fuel dock, which ended up making 2.6 nautical gallons per hour from Yakutat. I had 165 gallons on board for the crossing so we ended up with 81 gallons to spare on The Explorer and another 20 gallons Tom was carrying for me on the Godwit. Anchoring north of Kayak Island, passing through the shallow Kayak Channel, the Egg Island stick channel and going slow saved a lot of fuel. Could be able to do our Prince William Sound and Kenai Fiord Adventures without the need to go into Seward for fuel. I would much rather spend that time around Granite Island and all those glaciers and wood-strewn bays on both sides of McArthur Pass. Plus we see a little more fishing in our future when we have the ice availability.   

We are anchored in Comfort Cove of Gravina Bay now after having come from the Hole in the Wall in Simpson Bay and the nap in  Sheep bay. Lots of fish are jumping and seiners have been poised along the way for an upcoming opener. Pancakes and eggs for dinner as the showers slacken and clouds lift revealing rocky flanks of mountains all around.