Ketchikan

Sunday, July 7

Ketchikan, also known as the first city of Alaska, because it is the first one you come to as you head north. Haha!

Alaska, the land of the gold rush, the copper rush, the timber rush, the salmon rush, the halibut rush, the crab rush...you name it, they all rushed up here with varying degrees of success. I guess we now have the cruise rush!

We are now in the Inside Passage, a maze of channels, straits, sounds, narrows, islands. Muir and Vancouver explored the area, each looking for something different, Vancouver seeking a northwest passage and Muir the beauties of nature.

Ketchikan, a sleep little town, lying within the 2 million acre Tongass National Forest, was a Tlingit summer fishing camp and is currently the salmon fishing center, known for its canneries. Halibut is also fished. Ketchikan in Tlingit means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle".

We arrived here at 7:00 am and I immediately went off on a tour of Misty Fjords, except that they weren't misty. Ketchikan is the fourth wettest place on earth, with an average of 154 inches a year of rainfall. But, they've been experiencing a drought and so we had the most glorious, sunny day...but no mists!

Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness was created in 1978. filled with waterfalls (but not this time!), wildlife and natural beauty.

It was a wonderful tour...on a double-hulled hi-speed boat that could take us over 100 miles and back in a space of 5 hours with time to slow down or stop to see wildlife: salmon, whales, terns, porpoise, seals, bald eagles. Yup! Extraordinary views of endless forest, snow-capped mountains, granite bowls left by retreating glaciers, colorful lichens and mosses. We also watched the purse seining fisherman...fascinating close up. And if the scenery looks familiar, it is very like the fjords of Norway. I've been having trouble with the auto setting on my camera lens and my photos of the wildlife were not successful.

The naturalist and native Alaskan on board were very informative, especially about tribal culture. We were served a pastry, clam chowder (excellent) and local smoked red salmon.

The little town of Ketchikan is colorful and filled with touristy shops of course.

Tonight we ate in one of the specialty restaurants...The Tuscan Grille, which occupies the entire aft of the ship on deck 5. I doubt there is a restaurant with a better view in the world. It was spectacular...and we were treated to orcas and a whale! Does entertainment get any better! And the food was excellent. We lingered until 9....we hated to leave! But we had to be up very early to get good seats in the Sky Lounge, for the sail up Tracy Arm tomorrow. Early! I mean 5am!