Ketchikan

First port of call – Ketchikan. Tiny town just a few thousand yet it’s the 4th largest in Alaska. I spent our time here eating!

After enjoying time on the ship, Alf visited the Totem Park here in Ketchikan while I took a bus to a boat to a lodge. We saw eagles – lots of them! And harbor seals. And a kelp farm (you can grow and sell kelp but not harvest the wild stuff). A small boat took us from Clover Pass to the Silverking Lodge at breakneck speed – this is a relatively new fishing lodge for salmon fishers complete with local black-tail deer and starfish in clear, clear water. We hiked in the nearby Tongass National Forest – filled with huge cedars and hemlocks, including Chester, the biggest, oldest red cedar known in the area – simply huge. Hiking was followed by lunching at the lodge. Lots and lots of Dungeness crabs, corn, potatoes, shrimp, mussels, clams and napkins – all steamed when we arrived and dumped on the newspaper-covered tables (except the napkins). Fantastic.

Lunch was followed by the return boat trip – again at full speed, full bumps, full noise and full people. Add seafood and shake!

Fortunately, I had a bit of time off before the port talk (presentation about the next destination) so while Alf indulged himself in the spa – which has steam and sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and snow grotto, I looked into the fancy salon. Not doing the snow, nope, not me.

Dinner in the Italian restaurant – very good indeed. Sitka tomorrow.