Ketchikan - crabbing, eating, shopping

Ketchikan - June 21, 2010

On Monday we spent the day in Ketchikan. We went the day on a crabbing boat and collected our crabs from their traps. We ate Dungeness crabs and blueberry cheesecake for lunch. Shopping in Ketchikan is jewelry city. Anything you can imagine from tanzanite to diamonds to jade to turquoise to furs are all available.

Ketchikan is a city neatly laid along a narrow flat strip at the base of 3100 foot Deer Mountains on Revillagigedo Island. Most people believe that Ketchikan is derived for a Tlingit phrase that means “thundering wings of the eagle. Speaking of, we saw a whole tree full of bald eagles.

The first inhabitants were Tlingit tribes who set up a fishing camp at the mouth of the Ketchikan Creek. Tribal history is based on oral tradition. According to legend, a Tlingit ancestor settled on the shores of what is now know as Ketchikan Creek. When the town, with 800 residents was finally incorporated in 1900, news of bountiful local fishing grounds were well known as “Salmon Capital of the World”. I believe I’ve eaten salmon everyday but 3 on this trip. I’m sure my cholesterol must be at a good level. See pictures of Ketchikan.

Skagway, June 19, 2010

Skagway

In Skagway we hiked the Chilkoot Hike and Raft. The hike was only 2 miles but straight up and down. We used trekking poles, thank God. We were not sure Bill was going to make it. Our guide was very kind to all of us. To start the photographer on the hike got stabbed in the forehead by a pole by some old geyser. Be sure to see our pictures from the hike. The raft ride was much easier and our guide did all the steering and rowing on the rapids. Merky, Jen, Kristen and Dennis, you could have used him. We saw an eagle and lots of rock. Be sure to see the pictures.

Kluane, Whitehorse and musher dogs.

Yesterday we visited Uncommon Journeys, a dog musher training facility. 50 dogs at least all well trained and socialized. We could pet and play with them. Mandy, in February we can spend a week here, living and learning to mush. You would love it. See pictures. We spent time in Kluane National Park, beautiful. Today we spent the day in Whitehorse, population:25,000. Interesting town on the Yukon River. We rode mountain bikes along the river, saw a fish ladder, the SS Klondike. Good day for exercise and fresh air. Temperature was about 55 - 62 degrees. Tomorrow we go the Skagway and get on our cruise ship. Before we cruise we hike and go on a raft ride. See pictures for the day.

Fairbanks/Athabaskan village/Riding a salmon, sleeping in the village.

We spent the day in Fairbanks, at a gold mine in Eldorado, Gold Mine No. 8 dredge. Did you know:

Alaska state tree: Sitka Spruce

State sport: dog mushing

State Flower: Forget-Me-not

Population: 40,000

Amount of daylight:

Maximum: 21 hours, 48 minutes

Minimum: 3 hours, 42 minutes.

Fairbanks is a neat little city. I could spend more time here as in Denali. The air here is so clean and fresh. It feels good just to take a deep breath. I will put lots more pictures on the blog today.

We rode a sternwheeler riverboat Alaska, visited an Athabaskan, (native Americans) village. We saw where Susan Butcher lived and trained her dogs for the Iditarod. Saw how they catch, skin, smoke and eat salmon and train musher dogs. We panned for gold at Mine No. 8. I got $28 worth of gold. Mark got $20 worth of gold. Check out these pictures.

Stuff

Having breakfast in Fairbanks before we go on a steamboat ride and panning for gold. Will send more pictures later. See attached pics of Denali. Trying to look like a elk and a moose.

Facts and Pictures

We rode on the train to Denali today. The scenery is beautiful. Last night we dined a 5 star restaurant, in my opinion. We just stopped in Talkeetna. We passed through Wasilla and Palmer. No we didn’t see Sarah. Just heard she got a boob job. The story behind Darwin's Theory is the name of a bar in Anchorage and if you know Mark, you know he firmly believes in this theory.

Did you know?

Alaska is one-sixth the size of the lower 48.

Alaska has approximately 100,000 glaciers.

Alaska is home to 17 national park systems.

The 1964 good Friday earthquake was a magnitude 9.2.

Bill & Veronica: The day started with a big breakfast topped off with a Bloody Mary. If only we could be on vacation every day! The scenery from the train is spectacular! Even though Veronica is on the wagon, she feels the train ride is enough to intoxicate her. Although Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, it didn’t have the feel of being in a huge metropolitan area. As we ride the train, the tour director just advised us that for the next 60 miles we will be traveling in the Alaska bush.

The pictures I will attach are from Anchorage and our train trip to Denali.

Mountains and animals

Ok, here are some more pictures, the mountains and glaciers are spectacular.

Dinner

We had dinner in Girdwood in the mountains with friends Patrice Lesce, Bill and Veronica. Dick Cheney stopped by and ate with us as well. The mountains are unbelievable. See for youself.

Pictures

I am struggling with my picture downloads, let me know if this works. this is our first night at the The Snow Goose. Boy we were really tired. Pictures of Bill in his briefs to follow.

Anchorage

See the attached pictures.

Seattle

We arrived in Seattle on time, 2:00 Ohio time. It's cloudy and around 60 degrees. Waiting to meet up with the Tripps.

Getting Ready

Our trip begins on Wednesday. I am just trying this out. Let me know if you get an email about this post. Thanks.

Martha