Khutze Inlet

 Position N 53 D 05.442

               W 128 D 31.031

We opted to get up early and catch the push of the falling tide out of Grenville Narrows.  Early means 0400, anyway, we started our routine of getting things going and ready the anchor lift.  Just as we started the windlass, the alternator spat the dummy.  Remember we had cobbled it back together after the external regulator failed.  It needs more investigation because we are a bit stumped.  The tachometer is working fine which runs off the alternator.  Usually when the alternator starts to hiccup we lose the tach.  Anyway we quickly grabbed the portable generator and got it charging our batteries so we could lift anchor.  This fiasco set us back about 45 minutes and we ended up with only a little push and lots going the wrong way.  We persevered even though we had a 70 mile day planned.  We were ecstatic when the current finally changed in our favor and we arrived in Butedale at just after 1900.  The reports of the new dock had us excited but when we arrived we found that they were missing and there was only a single dock big enough for three boats, except the two boats that were there decided to space themselves so only two could fit.  We hovered around for a while hoping someone would get the message and a boat would either shift forward or back.  Must have been cocktail hour below as there was not a soul to be seen.  So we opted for Khutze Inlet ten miles further down the road.  We got in and settled at 2130.  Luckily this time of year in these latitudes it stays light most of the time but it still made a long day.  It is nice to know however that we got a large chunk of mileage behind us and if Mark can’t get the alternator resurrected we will have to run the portable generator a fair amount.  That is of course why we have it.