When we first arrived in Eagle River this summer, I spotted a derelict wooden boat hiding in the trees north of town. At the time, I told BJ that I wanted to come back for pictures. A couple weeks later, the boat was featured in a Saturday issue of the
Anchorage Daily News, providing more background.
Built in 1912, the 82' Chacon worked in Alaska for most of its life before being left on the beach in Homer.
The current owner purchased it in 1984 and had it moved to the current location with the intent of repairing it and then using it to sail around the world.
It appears that little has been accomplished in the ensuing 40 years, although the trees have grown.
Lots of character to the boat, but it doesn't look like the owner's dreams will be realized.
Our plans have changed some as well, but not as drastically. Turk is scheduled to get his stitches out on the 30th after
his second surgery. Assuming all is well, we'll leave Eagle River on August 2nd to start working our way south. Valdez, Haines, and Skagway are off the list for this trip, but I'm hoping we'll be able to do Chicken, Dawson, and Hyder on our way.
I like the boat. Sometimes plans and dreams are all that keep us going. Hope Turk gets a great report from the vet. Guess you'll just have to make another trip up for Valdez, Skagway, and Haines. That would be tough, wouldn't it?:-)
ReplyDelete"Guess you'll just have to make another trip up for Valdez, Skagway, and Haines."
DeleteI've been thinking that it would be easy to pick up Haines and Skagway as part of a ferry-based trip and then swing by Valdez. To get even more carried away, Vancouver to Victoria then Port Hardy to Prince Rupert on the Canadian ferry system and then switch to the Alaska ferry for the remainer. The Canadian ferry does the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert primarily in the daylight - too pretty to miss by going through at night ... $$$ A guy can dream!
Oh my! That boat really grabs my imagination. When I was a kid I wanted to sail solo around the world. I have friends who spent years building their own sailboat and finally took it out to sea -- only they almost got run over by a bigger ship and barely were able to get out of the way. My friend declared that was the end of their sea-going life.
ReplyDeleteMy ex had a nephew who lived in Alaska many years ago. Went out on a fishing boat and a storm hit and he never returned. They later found parts of the boat.
The boat speaks to me of all the dreams I've dreamed... and that never quite panned out. But the dreams certainly enriched and gave direction to my life.
Thanks again for posting such a poignant vignette of the misty past.
I was out in Kodiak today surrounded by working boats. They've always drawn me but I don't have any experience with anything bigger than my kayaks and canoes.
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