Ferries, planes, and automobiles
Team Alaska!
I haven't posted as much as I normally do. It's been quite a bit of moving and I do the driving and navigating. So tonight I'm trying to catch up.
On our second full day, the ferry stopped in Ketchikan. Judy slept in and Laurie and I got up at 6:00 a.m. to wander the downtown. We were in port for 3 hours and Ketchikan would be our first steps in Alaska. We split a cab with another couple from the ferry named Laure and Brian and started to explore.
On our second full day, the ferry stopped in Ketchikan. Judy slept in and Laurie and I got up at 6:00 a.m. to wander the downtown. We were in port for 3 hours and Ketchikan would be our first steps in Alaska. We split a cab with another couple from the ferry named Laure and Brian and started to explore.
Creek Street, Ketchikan
The cab driver took us down to a trail that led into the back of Creek Street. Creek Street was a notorious collection of brothels back in the day. We came in via married man trail, the back way where you can enter and exit without being seen from people in town. We walked Creek Street all the way down to the boardwalk.
Creek Street, Ketchikan
Creek Street no longer has the infamous brothels, gambling houses, and bars. It is now populated mostly by gift shops and tourist related things. It is photographed quite a bit and I'm sure our photos look similar to the thousands before. A salmon stream runs through the middle of it and the saying was “where both salmon and men come to spawn”.
The real Aleutian Ballad from Deadliest Catch
We were only in Port for 3 hours and it was very early in the morning, on a Sunday. A lot of the stores weren't open. That's fine with us, we weren't there to shop. We did grab a few souvenir stickers and the like and then walked the boardwalk headed north towards the ferry.
Massive cruise ships in Ketchikan
Ketchikan is a very popular stop for cruise lines. While we were the first ones into the downtown area with few people around. At 8:00 a.m., four cruise ships discharged all their passengers into the downtown area. You have four cruise ships holding between 3,500 and 5,000 passengers each and it becomes quite crowded.
Back on the ferry!
We started walking about a mile and a half back towards the ferry. We arrived in plenty of time, spending only about 90 minutes in Ketchikan. It had a very Myrtle Beach/Gatlinburg feel. There are a lot of cool things to see and do on the outskirts, but downtown in a massive crowd of tourists just isn't our thing. We boarded the ferry and grabbed some breakfast.
Stunning ferry views
While we were eating breakfast, the ferry cast lines and continued our trip northward. We had two more short stops and did port calls at Wrangell and Petersburg. As these were 45 minute stops, we did not get off
We had planned to do laundry this particular day. The girls put our wash in the onboard washing machine and we hung out in the forward lounge. We napped, read, and occasionally I would pop outside to take photos.
We had planned to do laundry this particular day. The girls put our wash in the onboard washing machine and we hung out in the forward lounge. We napped, read, and occasionally I would pop outside to take photos.
Remote island living
It was breezy and raining on and off. Being out on Deck was fairly brisk so I would pop out, find someplace sheltered, and hopefully see something worth photographing. It looks like all of the critters got the memo and were in hiding or asleep.
We continued our habit of chatting with people on board. We talked about where we were from, where we were going, and a lot of other things both travel related and not. It's a very social environment and we met so many friendly people.
We continued our habit of chatting with people on board. We talked about where we were from, where we were going, and a lot of other things both travel related and not. It's a very social environment and we met so many friendly people.
Scenery along the way
One of the interesting things is that we talked with people of all different ages. Young people in their twenties, elderly people in their '80s and possibly '90s, people our age. We went to dinner together, the small bar on board together, we sat in the lounge together.
There are so many things that separate us out in the regular world and keep us from approaching each other. These all disappear when we are stuck on a ferry together. It was all so civilized, the kind of travel that I love and try to seek out. Everyone connected in our shared experience.
There are so many things that separate us out in the regular world and keep us from approaching each other. These all disappear when we are stuck on a ferry together. It was all so civilized, the kind of travel that I love and try to seek out. Everyone connected in our shared experience.
Juneau to Anchorage
Next comes the not so fun part. The ferry came into Juneau at 4:15. a.m. I was ready to go but Laurie wanted to get up at 3:30 just to be safe. We gathered our stuff and the three of us gathered at the elevator on the ship. We took the elevator down to the car deck and disembarked.
I had reserved an Uber to the airport. Our Uber driver was retired from the Alaska Marine highway system having been an engine room engineer for over 20 years. He was originally from the Philippines but had lived in Alaska for several decades. He was very helpful and efficient!
I had reserved an Uber to the airport. Our Uber driver was retired from the Alaska Marine highway system having been an engine room engineer for over 20 years. He was originally from the Philippines but had lived in Alaska for several decades. He was very helpful and efficient!
Scenery abounds
We arrived long before our flight, and had a very mediocre meal in the airport restaurant. We went down to sit at the gate, and all of us were walking wounded. It frustrates my wife when I can sit down in a chair standing fully upright and fall asleep. I got a good hour in before we had to board the plane.
We boarded and I immediately fell right back asleep. I slept until the wheels touched down in Anchorage about an hour and a half later. We unloaded, grabbed our luggage and a rental car, and headed north. We scored an upgrade and got a Ford Explorer.
We boarded and I immediately fell right back asleep. I slept until the wheels touched down in Anchorage about an hour and a half later. We unloaded, grabbed our luggage and a rental car, and headed north. We scored an upgrade and got a Ford Explorer.
Ya can't take this bunch anywhere!
We stopped at a Mexican restaurant and had lunch then a sporting goods store as Lauriei had brought the wrong jacket with her. After that we stopped at Walmart to pick up snacks for the rest of our travels. We bought cheese, crackers, summer sausage, chips, and drinks. Just munchies for our days in the wilderness.
Our first night was in Wasilla, a smaller town north of Anchorage. It's a pretty good size town and has a Walmart, Target, and a bunch of other chain stores as well as the local ones. It was actually much larger than I expected. We had a cabin in the woods on the edge of Wasilla which was very nice that we were all just trashed so naps were on the agenda.
Our first night was in Wasilla, a smaller town north of Anchorage. It's a pretty good size town and has a Walmart, Target, and a bunch of other chain stores as well as the local ones. It was actually much larger than I expected. We had a cabin in the woods on the edge of Wasilla which was very nice that we were all just trashed so naps were on the agenda.
Things grow quick with 20 hours of light
We woke up from our naps at around 6:30 and decided that we would get takeout for dinner. We picked up some really good Chinese takeout. After dinner, we all were still tired so we turned in. The constant light disrupts things.
It's light here from about 4:00 a.m. to about 1:00 or so in the morning. You'll wake up and you don't know if it's day or night so you check your clock and then go back to sleep if it's too early. It's very similar to Iceland.
It's light here from about 4:00 a.m. to about 1:00 or so in the morning. You'll wake up and you don't know if it's day or night so you check your clock and then go back to sleep if it's too early. It's very similar to Iceland.
Talkeetna!
We get up around 8:00 a.m. and pack up. We had a really good breakfast at the Denali Family Restaurant in Wasilla. I have biscuits and gravy and a reindeer sausage. The girls split an omelette the size of your arm. Everything was quite tasty.
We head towards our next destination which is Talkeetna. It isn't far, maybe 65 miles, and we arrive about an hour and a half later. We check into our accommodations and wander the small town.
We head towards our next destination which is Talkeetna. It isn't far, maybe 65 miles, and we arrive about an hour and a half later. We check into our accommodations and wander the small town.
The Roadhouse!
Talkeetna was a stop along the way for the miners back in the Gold Rush days. They would stay, eat, drink, and buy supplies before heading on. In later years it was a place where supplies were brought in by train and then flown out into the wilderness by bush planes.
We are staying at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, a historic inn built in 1917. It was mostly built out of logs. They have baked goods and a kitchen, which is sadly closed tomorrow. The floors are old mill boards that squeak when you walk across them. It is wicked cool!
We are staying at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, a historic inn built in 1917. It was mostly built out of logs. They have baked goods and a kitchen, which is sadly closed tomorrow. The floors are old mill boards that squeak when you walk across them. It is wicked cool!
Our room
The people that stayed in the old days were miners, prospectors, loggers, and travelers going into the Alaskan bush. The owner is a woman who has run it for 30 years. She's incredibly friendly and left the most wonderful chocolate chip cookies for the guests.
Tomorrow we head north towards Denali. Our next three nights will be in a cabin near Healey Alaska. I’m headed to bed!
