June 13 Meyers Chuck, Alaska

Meyers Chuck occupies less than one mile of land and water 40 miles NW of Ketchikan at the tip of Cleveland Peninsula, a heavily forested arm of the mainland that extends west into the islands of Alaska's panhandle and points toward Prince of Wales Island.

As it has for more than a century, Meyers Chuck maintains an outwardly sleepy semblance while remaining fiercely independent from the world outside. There are no roads, no runways, no taxes, no local government and little need for them, according to the dozen year-round residents who thrive in the rigorous solitude of life here.

After traveling 33 miles from Ketchiken this morning in seas abeam and then following we squeezed behind Meyers Island and felt like we were stepping back 100 years to what we had pictured Alaska to be. Old homesteader and miner's shacks line the waterfront and cling precariously to the hillside. We are told there is a total of 48 houses in the community but only 8 of them are occupied year-round.

There are few traces of "modern" development in the area. The Alaskan government installed a government float a few years back and there is a float plane dock but we have yet to see any arrive. On the shore the community centers around a community bulletin board, one dilapidated phone booth and a weathered street corner US mailbox.

The mail is picked up just once a week and taken to a neighboting community to be sent out. Incoming mail is also just weekly but I don't think these folks need to be concerned about getting bills for their garbage service, utilities or propery tax...which are non existent.

They have a small rustic gallery back in the woods with a large assortment of hand crafted items made in the community...handknitted wool socks, carved wooden bowls, intricate beadwork, quilts and jewelry made of natural materials (earrings out of the ear bone of whales).

Each person you meet on the well worn trails has a sincere smile and warm greeting for you.

Back in the woods we discovered the old school house which was closed 8 years ago due to lack of students. It is for sale but as yet no takers.

In case you might think this would be the "perfect" spot you might also want to know the following statistics:
longest day = 17 hours, 28 minutes
shortest day = 6 hours, 6 minutes
temperature range = -10 to 92 F
precipitation = 82 inches

We met a nice couple from Oregon who are traveling on their Krogan 48' motor yacht. They were leaving Ketchikan at same time this morning as us and headed same direction so we "buddied up" so to speak. Tomorrow we are on to Wrangell.
the old bro' and his misses

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