The months dragged by as we prepared and gathered equipment for the trip. I searched the internet for tips on hunting spring black bear and what to expect from the weather in Southeast in early May. We made the requisite trips to Dick's and Cabelas, buying raingear and the most important single item, a water purifier ( you'd think the snow melt water would be fine to drink but everything I read said to boil or purify your water ).
The day finally came and we headed for the Kansas City airport. Check-in was largely uneventful. (Note to air traveling hunters... "I will be checking firearms" creates less of a stir than "I have a gun in my suitcase.")
The flight on Southwest from KC to Seattle was pretty smooth so Paul was happy ( he really does hate to fly!)
Since there is only one flight a day from Seattle to Petersburg, we spent the night and headed for the airport early the next morning. Check-in was very easy, apparently, lots of people check firearms on Alaska Airlines. The flight itself was more interesting, though, Seattle to Juneau to Ketchikan to Petersburg with a plane change in between and the planes got smaller. We found out that Paul hates taking off and landing more than the actual flying itself. Nevertheless, we arrived safely.
Once in Petersburg, we checked in with Pacific Wing, our float plane charter service, borrowed an old van from them, and headed into town. We bought groceries and supplies for the week, working from a quickly scribbled list. High on my wish list was a package of Baby Wipes. I took a ribbing for that, but I knew that by the third or fourth day without a good washing, I'd have to share.
With all the groceries bought and hunting and fishing licenses in hand, we headed off to Tongass Marine to get our rented boat. Ben, the owner , was very helpful in all ways. He told us where we could most likely catch some fish close to our cabin. When I told him which cabin we were staying in, he strongly suggested that we try to change " You don't want to stay in that dump! There's a better place in the same bay."
I quickly got on the phone and tried to change cabins. It's not like changing rooms in a hotel but I got it done. We'd have to stay in Portage 1 for one night and move to Portage 2 the second day. Just like changing flights, I had to pay a change fee and the cabin cost $10 more per day.
As I was finishing up the rental transaction, a Petersburg resident that happened to be in the store asked where we were going. When I replied that we were going to Portage Bay he casually remarked that we might ought to wait until the next morning, "It's supposed to get a little windy this afternoon."
"We can't do that,"I replied," we're only here for a week. We're going to be on the Inside Passage, how bad could it be?"
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