Ketchikan, Alaska

After leaving Vancouver it took about thirty-six hours to reach Ketchikan, Alaska. We traveled the Inside Passage as it snakes along the British Columbia coastline. In spots the passage appeared no more than one hundred yards wide and the search for wildlife along the islands kept us busy. Unfortunately no wildlife made an appearance but the scenery was breath taking. Cruising among these islands is a lot more interesting than the Caribbean. But then cruising azure blue seas versus islands shrouded in mist and rain are really two different worlds. This world seems more philosophical and life changing, not to be taken light heartedly.
We did reach Ketchikan, a city of about eight thousand souls that gets twenty feet of rain each year. When we arrived, along with three other cruise ships, the town’s population swelled to twenty thousand and we enjoyed, what the locals said, was one of the four sunny days they have each year. There is a river that flows through the heart of Ketchikan and built along one side on raised pilings is Creek Street. Up here creek is pronounced like something you get in your neck. Anyway Creek Street is the historic location of the bordellos in town with Dolly Arthur being the head Madame. After an illustrious career, Dolly died in 1975 owning half the real estate in town. I guess sin does pay!
As we were walking along the many shops I accidently let go of my Sweetheart’s hand. Yep, she had the gold card and was shopping at the jewelry stores!
The river is also a salmon stream and while we are visiting, the salmon are also. Swimming upstream to spawn, there are thousands and thousands, going back to the spot where they hatched approximately eight years ago. After this long journey almost beating themselves to death on the rocks and struggling the entire way, they die - after their thousands of eggs are deposited and fertilized. The locals say that for the next three months the town takes on quite an aroma. Fortunately the tourist season is nearly over. The town also has lots of totem poles and a totem pole museum, which I only recommend for those who are real deep thinkers. Now it’s off to Icy Strait Point, Alaska as we leave Chief Johnson’s totem pole behind.
On a sadder note – in our hurry to leave Texas and the 100 degree heat, we accidently left our good friend “Flat Stormy” behind. We have had friends call and tell us they could hear him screaming at the top of his lungs, “Wait, wait! I’ll be good, I promise Wait!” But we had already turned the corner and my Sweetheart had the radio on NPR too loud to hear him. Hopefully he won’t take this as an affront. Hopefully MM Kyle & Denny Crain can comfort and take care of him, as we have found he needs a lot of TLC.