Once again I ask for your forgiveness in the delay in posting today's notes as once again there was no free Wi-Fi access.
Later today we are to travel to Petersburg.
This morning was laundry day. We all know when we go on vacation one of the first things we need to do when we get home is the laundry. Well, we have two weeks down and 6 weeks to go, so the laundry needed to be done.
Later this morning, still in Wrangell, we drove out of town to 'Rainbow Falls'. It was a 0.6 mile hike through a rain forest. Most of the trek was up hill on a wooded set of steps. The 'board walk' was only two boards wide (maybe 10 inches), not a regular set of steps. The falls are 100' in heigth.
We then went back to Petroglyph Beach. This time we did find around 15 of the little rock chippings. A dog from the neighborhood was around, wanting to play. He carrier a small log (a tree limb about 3 inches in width and 12 - 15 inches long) and placed it at the feet of anyone who would let him do it. When the log was thrown, he brought it back, even if it ended in the ocean.
The 3 hour ferry ride today was a little more interesting that the others. The channel used could only be used at high tide. There were sections that seemed to be only 10 - 12 feet on either side of the vessel. The locals also told us that if there was not enough water they just skipped the port call.
We arrived in Petersburg (Little Norway) and checked into the hotel by 11:00 pm. At most of these towns the ferry dock is outside of town, so finding our way at night, and sometimes in the rain, was interesting and challenging.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Friday, June 18, 2010
06/16/2010 - Wednesday
Please excuse me for the delay in posting today's travel report. The hotel we stayed in did not have any Wi-Fi.
Today was a longer than usual day. We got up around 2:00 a.m. since we had to check in with the ferry at 2:30 a.m. for our trip from Ketchikan to Wrangell. We drove the vehicle on board the ferry at 4:00 a.m. It departed at 5:00 as scheduled.
We had interesting conversations with a couple from Australia and another couple from Antwerp, Belgium. A few seats away was a couple from West Bloomfield. A man from Houston, Texas was also involved with our conversations.
After arriving in Wrangell we were able to check in with the hotel quickly, even after driving the wrong way down a one way street. Also, the hotel was spray painting the exterior so we could not park close.
The town was small enough that we were able to walk the entire length in probably 15 minutes. We went to a local Tlingit (Native Indian) clan house and then to the local museum and visitor center - probably one of the best visitor centers we have been to on this trip.
The small down town (I do not remember any traffic lights) had a few murals on the sides of buildings, but nothing like I have reported earlier that we seen in Clemainus, BC.
We went to the local 'Petroglyph Beach' where there was supposed to be petroglyphs (old carvings in rocks). We did not see any.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Today was a longer than usual day. We got up around 2:00 a.m. since we had to check in with the ferry at 2:30 a.m. for our trip from Ketchikan to Wrangell. We drove the vehicle on board the ferry at 4:00 a.m. It departed at 5:00 as scheduled.
We had interesting conversations with a couple from Australia and another couple from Antwerp, Belgium. A few seats away was a couple from West Bloomfield. A man from Houston, Texas was also involved with our conversations.
After arriving in Wrangell we were able to check in with the hotel quickly, even after driving the wrong way down a one way street. Also, the hotel was spray painting the exterior so we could not park close.
The town was small enough that we were able to walk the entire length in probably 15 minutes. We went to a local Tlingit (Native Indian) clan house and then to the local museum and visitor center - probably one of the best visitor centers we have been to on this trip.
The small down town (I do not remember any traffic lights) had a few murals on the sides of buildings, but nothing like I have reported earlier that we seen in Clemainus, BC.
We went to the local 'Petroglyph Beach' where there was supposed to be petroglyphs (old carvings in rocks). We did not see any.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
06/15/2010 - Tuesday
This morning we went on a 4 1/2 hour boat tour of Misty Fjords National Monument. It is a fjord south then south east of Ketchikan. The items of interest on this tour are the scenery and the sea life. The scenery was great. The sea life was just so-so. We did see the top fin of an Orca whale (the naturalist on board said that they are actually from the dolphin family) a little ways off, not close enough for a photo. We saw the tail fin of a humpback. This time the naturalist said that when you see the tail fin the whale is going deep and can stay under for 30 - 40 minutes so the boat just kept going. There were also porpoises at times. And some seals along the water's edge.
A small log got stuck in one of the 4 jets so a few minutes was spent getting it out so we could continue.
After we docked we walked around town for a little while. Then we headed back to our hotel rooms and will go out for supper later. It is surprising how the population of Ketchikan changes. Yesterday there were 4 large cruise ships at the docks. When they left late afternoon, between 5 and 6, the whole town pretty much shut down.
Tonight we need to leave the hotel around 2:30 am at the latest to board the next ferry ride which leaves at 5:00 a.m. for Wrangell. It is to arrive there at 11:00 a.m.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
A small log got stuck in one of the 4 jets so a few minutes was spent getting it out so we could continue.
After we docked we walked around town for a little while. Then we headed back to our hotel rooms and will go out for supper later. It is surprising how the population of Ketchikan changes. Yesterday there were 4 large cruise ships at the docks. When they left late afternoon, between 5 and 6, the whole town pretty much shut down.
Tonight we need to leave the hotel around 2:30 am at the latest to board the next ferry ride which leaves at 5:00 a.m. for Wrangell. It is to arrive there at 11:00 a.m.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Monday, June 14, 2010
06/14/2010 - Monday
We walked to a little restaurant for breakfast. When we returned there was a phone call from the tour company for tomorrow that the tour we signed up for and already paid for was cancelled. So, working with the morning hotel clerk we got reservations for the Misty Fjords tour for the same time tomorrow.
We then went to a totem pole park (free) outside of town instead of the cost one that tour buses go to. we did enjoy it.
Now we are getting ready for tomorrow.
Signed:
The Wayward Traveler
We then went to a totem pole park (free) outside of town instead of the cost one that tour buses go to. we did enjoy it.
Now we are getting ready for tomorrow.
Signed:
The Wayward Traveler
06/13/2010 - Sunday
Today was another somewhat long travel day. When we got up it was raining lightly, but it did clear before we walked around town again.
Our ferry ride from Prince Rupert, BC, to Ketchikan, AK was to leave at 5:15 pm. We were to get at the terminal at 2:15 to start the process of registration and customs clearance. And of course it started to rain heavy again.
The actual sailing was a little rough with 7 foot swells.
When we finally arrived in Ketchikan at 11:00 pm we found that the hotel was locked up. Another person called the hotel phone number and we found out that the night clerk went to the ferry to pick us up - someone forgot to tell them we were driving.
There is only on-street parking, and only for a 2-hour time period during the day - bummer, cause logistics problems.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Our ferry ride from Prince Rupert, BC, to Ketchikan, AK was to leave at 5:15 pm. We were to get at the terminal at 2:15 to start the process of registration and customs clearance. And of course it started to rain heavy again.
The actual sailing was a little rough with 7 foot swells.
When we finally arrived in Ketchikan at 11:00 pm we found that the hotel was locked up. Another person called the hotel phone number and we found out that the night clerk went to the ferry to pick us up - someone forgot to tell them we were driving.
There is only on-street parking, and only for a 2-hour time period during the day - bummer, cause logistics problems.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Saturday, June 12, 2010
06/12/2010 - Fly-In Visitor
This is a fly-in visitor right outside our hotel room. The base of the tree is about 20 feet away and the room height is about half way up the tree.
We were also watching eagles flying around when we were having our dinner.
06/12/2010 - Saturday
It was raining when we got up today, as it was when we arrived. The locals told us the prior two weeks were great and it just started raining for the weekend.
Mid-morning we went to the Museum of Northern British Columbia. It is mainly about the many native tribes and some of the founding of the forest and fishing towns.
After it stopped raining we walked down town (all 5 blocks). This was a 'sea fest' weekend with lots of local events going on. Their large parade, which circled the main town twice, occurred even in the heavy rains.
Tomorrow evening we finally arrive in Alaska by ferry in the town of Ketchikan.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Mid-morning we went to the Museum of Northern British Columbia. It is mainly about the many native tribes and some of the founding of the forest and fishing towns.
After it stopped raining we walked down town (all 5 blocks). This was a 'sea fest' weekend with lots of local events going on. Their large parade, which circled the main town twice, occurred even in the heavy rains.
Tomorrow evening we finally arrive in Alaska by ferry in the town of Ketchikan.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
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