Alaska Vacation
July 6-7, days 2 and 3
Totems, Salmon, and the Deep Green Sea
Our first full day at sea was spent traversing the landward side of Vancouver Island. The day was cloudy as was almost the rest of the cruise. Still, we took pictures of the island mountains rising out of the sea, green with fir trees, all snow-capped at cloud level
Northward, between Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Island there is a 150 mile stretch of open ocean, this time complete with 20ft. swells to the side of the boat, which made life difficult for Jonathan. Just as soon as we had land to our west again, the water calmed down and so did Jon.


On Monday morning we arrived in Ketchekan where some of us had arranged a fishing charter. Five of us fished and we brought Carma along to sit and watch the action. At first it all looked kind of doubtful with wind, rain, and bumpy seas, but after an hour the wind quit, the rain stopped, and the water calmed down. Then salmon started jumping out of the water; all of this less than 100 yards from shore. Everytime we trolled through the school, we got a fish on until each of us boated two fish, the largest about 25 lbs. There was also plenty to see - a large fir tree with a half-dozen resident eagles, and a bear which came out of the woods down onto the beach, and then up through a group of houses along the shore, looking for lunch.

The red "Alaska" overcoats were bought aboard the ship as a necessity for Marolynn and Jon who had no coats, but I bought one also and quickly learned that it was a necessity for me also with the constant 50-degree weather and occasional rain. The snow level was only about 2,000ft up the mountains - all of the residents remarked how low it was for this time of year. They have not really had any break in the cloudy, rainy days of spring this year.
Jon and Marolynn took a tour to the Saxman Native Village replete with totems.

The U.S. purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867 was very popular among the native americans. Seward came up to see his purchase and the tribe threw a big party for him, and planned a totem in his honor. They expected him to reciprocate with a big party for the tribe and when it was not forthcoming, they constructed a "shame pole" with a carving of Seward at the top but with red ears and nose as a symbol of his shame for not hosting a celebration.

We all had a great time in Ketchikan. It is a beautiful place and I wished I was a generation younger - if I had known then, I might have moved up there.