Off the beaten track in Ketchikan

Setting sail during the night for Ketchikan our last port of call before Vancouver we were met once again with the sun greeting us and hanging around for the whole day. After our laps around the deck we were ready to rock and roll into down town Ketchican "Rain Capital of Alaska" with a population around 14,000 and not an umbrella to be seen. Average annual rainfall 200 inches which according to Paulapedia is 5,000mm with Geraldton's being 442mm!

Founded in 1885 as a salmon cannery site with a creek located near Creek Street you can see evidence of salmon heading upstream. This creek had lots of dead salmon floating and also lying dead on the exposed rocks. A little smelly mainly I think because it was hot. The lifecycle of the salmon truly on display here. After returning to their place of birth to spawn which always entails a strenuous upstream physical feat resulting in death. One of the bonuses was that there were seals entertaining the tourists playing around in the water and nibbling on some salmon. I thought there would be seagulls scavenging for a share of the salmon but very few around. You could also purchase salmon jerky ..... too close to the salmon cemetery for my liking!

After leaving the historic boardwalk area of Creek Street we hopped on a bus that took us to the Jeep warehouse where we joined 12 other rev heads looking for adventure on the logging trails in the mountains. The first part of the drive was a road trip to a lake where we all paddled in an oversize canoe to the opposite side of the lake. The paddling was pretty easy and the rewards were a chowder broth (best one by far) and a short rainforest tour. Tongass Forest is the largest forest in the United States and covers most of Southeast Alaska. We then changed gears to 4 wheel drive leaving the sealed road for rocky terrain.....Paul jokingly told a couple from Spain that all the roads in Australia were like that and everyone had 4 wheel drives! Driving was easy as we were following the vehicle in front but it still felt weird being on the opposite side of the road.

No need to say anything about this photo except it was sunny

Heading out to the rainforest soon

Good luck to the Eagles

I could work here

During the rainy season?

Skagway, Haines and Aussie Assist.

With the ship sailing on during the night we awoke to a view of a granite rock with numerous painted signs which we were told later on in the day were names of all the ships that come and go from the port of Skagway. Population of 800 which certainly explodes when the cruise ships come to town. As our tour was at 1:00pm we had plenty of time to take a leisurely stroll into the town. The town itself is like a Hollywood movie set where at times you collide with the history of the gold rush up in the Yukon. Wide streets, wooden sidewalks, bars and saloons and of course the many tourist shops. Most of the touristy shops close up and head down south around this time of year and  we were one of the last cruise ships to be here.

Paul and I opted for an "Eagle Preserve" tour (where the eagles are protected in the National park ....preserve to me means something that might be pickled in a jar!) The tour took our fancy as we would be sailing on a catamaran over to Haines, floating downstream on a river raft and then returning once again via the catamaran. Catamaran conjours up visions of sailing on a twin hulled vessel with a champagne glass in one hand.....not a twin hulled ferry (probably made in Western Australia) full of 200  passengers. Ferry ride over, we jumped aboard an old school bus (like you see in the movies) that transported us to where we would take the raft once we had our wellies and lifejackets on. This is the part where you hoped at the end of the rafting trip you ended up with your own shoes as they were all placed inside a crate.....Yikes my new merrills might find other feet inside them!

Raft chosen we quietly slipped into the middle of the river and our tour guide Zac expertly steered the raft with two oars from the centre of the craft.  We spotted lots of unpreserved bald eagles along the river bank, some salmon moving upstream and only the paw prints of bears. No guarantees to see any wildlife printed on your ticket plus the mention of bringing a spare pair of socks.

 The leisurely 2 hour float nearly ended in disaster when 4 of the people from the last raft alighted in knee deep water and were firmly  trapped in the sticky mud the consistency of wet cement. I was so looking forward to my hot drink and sanga when all of sudden it was mayhem. With the majority of the tour staff jumping into the water to rescue the trapped tourists who were slowly sinking past the top of their wellie boots into the muddy river bank. .... Paul couldn't stand by and watch with out lending a hand and he was soon knee deep in the mud with the rest of them. After much grunting and groaning and careful placement of available oars all were pulled to safety in a frantic scenario that lasted about 30 minutes. With the mud wrestling incident over this is where the spare pair of socks made a debut and a change of dacks kindly donated by the main leader of the tour.  People were feeling a little distraught about the delay, however,  a hasty bus ride back to Haines with the ferry waiting for us we were able to arrive back in Skagway in time to board our departing ship.

The day was full of unexpected delights and surprises ....we saw a moose and her calf. .....Paul without glasses thought it was a grizzly bear.  Paul with a new dry pair of trackie dacks with the letters AMG printed on the backside donated to him by the tour leader. We are still trying to work out what AMG stands for....
Aussie Massive Glutes.....A Muddy Goat.....Average Man Gear.....
Adrenalin Mighty Gogetter....Alaskan Mountain God......happy for your take on AMG.

Getting ready to be rafted

Zac our tour guide from Michigan 

Paul bringing home half of the river

Skagway buildings

Unusual name....might make you cry (LOL)

Rock graffiti 

AMG....Alaskan Mountain God

Jumping for Joy at Juneau.....Leader of the pack NOT

We awoke to glorious sunshine at Juneau Alaska which continued throughout the day. From our balcony (a liitle too fresh at times) the view of the coastline was picturesque with mountains populated with trees right to the waters edge. I'm very happy to report whales are dime a dozen up in this hood. You can't help but be in awe of these magnicent mammals as you see them popping up all over the place. I am waiting to see one breach style other than just tails and spouts.

Paul and I opted for a Bike and Brew tour once we had docked and off the ship. 24 of us bikers and drinkers jumped into a wagon that took us to base camp where we were fitted with a bike and helmet (not yet bike fit..drink fit) and we were ready to start our ride to Auke Lake to view Mendenhall Glacier. As I rode my bike I noticed that the back wheel was wobbling (a different sort of wobbling than my legs) and I had visions of my dentist going around the world on the money I would pay him to fix my teeth if I fell off going down a hill. Paul being the good husband as he is insisted on swapping bikes and we were on our way. One tour leader at the front riding, with one riding at the back to look for bears and to add words of encouragement to fit drinkers like me. Riding through forests and up to the interpretation centre and then a lift back to Juneau was certainly a great day of fun. On the way back to the port we saw two black bears scampering around the outskirts of suburbia and had apparently been raiding unlocked rubbish bins the night before. Yogi and Boo Boo were obviously looking for picnic baskets! Beer tasting and then a cablecar to Mt Robert (1800 feet high) before heading to the ship for a well deserved rest.

"North to the future" is the motto here in Juneau Alaska, the dragonfly is their insect emblem, the moose their animal and the Forget me Nots their flower emblem. Population around 32,000 similar to Geraldton but with no roads leading out. Air or water the only means of entering or exiting the capital of Alaska. The people of Juneau must feel the benefits in their purses when 4 cruise ships are docked at the one time. I can't imagine this occurrence in 6530.

Onwards and upwards to Skagway.

Me and my dentist's dream bike

Auke lake with view of the glacier.

Spirits captured floating around me!

Sail away, sail away, sail away

A very rainy morning greeted us as we readied ourselves for embarking on an item on a bucket list.....wasn't on either Paul's or mine to hop on a ship and cruise up to Alaska. Paul's bucket list is usually a visit to Bunnings as he is there for hours! We had so many recommendations from friends who have done the "Inside Passage" (I just think it sounds too darn rude for me) and all said it was a once in a lifetime trip......so here we are laying in a king size bed drinking champers 'inside' a room off a 'passage' way!

To get inside this room on the ship we did our last trip on the Highlands bus #246, last ferry ride on the seabus (brilliant transport), last trip to the Waterfront station and the final trip past the young people living in the sidewalk tent outside the station who gave us the last passing waft of pre legalised marijuana.

As my blog doesn't include advertising I won't mention the name of the cruise line...far too long to type it each time. They were very organised as in 4 easy steps, baggaged dropped, checked in and given boarding passes, border security USA style with finger prints taken (now in a database as in a Jack Reacher novel) with the last step a photo taken with someone dressed in a bald eagle suit.....surely a sign for West Coast supporters!

Lots of room to move about on the deck.

Leaving Vancouver

Built up area on the outskirts of the city

We did an extra lap to make it an even 2k's

Next time Darla and Molly. I have seen 1 dog here wearing a

 medic alert vest. He is assisting a boy who is autistic.

A Whale (wail) of a tale

Up early to head to the city for our Vancouver Island trip to see some whales and the renowned "Butchart Gardens". On arriving early at our pick up point we were told that our tour was leaving from Vancouver Island......4 hours away and a sea plane wouldn't even get us there on time. Unfortunately for us the Vancouver Tourist Centre got the tour wrong and all other whale tours full. No whales this time only me wailing.

The refund burnt a hole in our pockets as we booked a Sea Vancouver adventure and also did a Fly Over Canada Virtual tour. The Sea Vancouver tour was 90 minutes on a zodiac whizzing around Vancouver Harbour and False Creek. Our tour guide Tim was full of info about the history of Vancouver Harbour and also the dollar value of landmark buildings. The tourist in front of me was Prince Harry's double which was only fitting as we were sitting on board the Lady Di.

After this we headed towards Canada Place where we crossed Canada by air in a 3D virtual tour........even mist on my glasses as we went to Niagara Falls. Great fun experience.

Finishing on a positive note about my whale tale...... I did see a seal pup in the harbour.

Float homes 

Burrard St bridge ART DECO style

Controversial mural

click on the link below for further reading

Vancouver's largest mural

Paul getting some dutch courage for zodiac ride!

People pay top dollars to live on these float homes near Granville Island.

Fueling station in the harbour. At one firework event they ran out of diesel.

1.2 million litres.

Go to Grouse Mountain they said.....

My sit bones (Pilates term) are still pretty darn sore from riding around Vancouver 50 times yesterday....slight exaggeration but it felt like it.....and when Paul mentioned a lazy day today I was certainly whistling a happy tune. Brunch at Edgemont Village in the BJORNBAR a cafe/bar (no I am not improving my drink fit this early in the morning) in the main street with delicious sandwiches, coffee and pastries. A little fruit and grocery shopping with my Geraldton Boomerang bag,  a browse in the gift shops whilst Paul browsed the building site of some new apartments nearby ....if you had a spare 1.3million one could be yours. A glitch in the public transport system saw us heading to Grouse mountain the highest point in Vancouver with panoramic views across Vancouver harbour weather permitting.

As we headed up the mountain on the bus I realised that I wasn't really dressed for going up a mountain....light jacket, light shoes with no socks and no beanie, no gloves and no common sense to always be prepared......but I also knew if it was that cold up there maybe my sit bones would cease to be sore!  

Once the bus dropped us off the journey to the top began with an impressive cable car ride to the summit.  Views, even though the clouds were low and closing in didn't deter from the amazing panorama.  Lumberjack show and Birds in Motion raptor show were a bonus and thoroughly entertaining in the 7 degrees temperature. The lumberjack show was a bit slapstick but skillfull re the physical efforts they applied to demonstrate their craft. By the time the raptor show started the clouds and mist had moved in which limited the audience size but made the show up close and personal to the people who had braved the elements like us. Bald eagle, hawk, barn owl, turkey vulture and a peregrine falcon (fastest animal In the world) - all in all a very entertaining and informative show. Departed by the bear enclosure and I am pretty sure if you encountered one in the wild without an electric fence to protect you I don't think you would stand around ringing your bear bell for too long.

What goes up must come down!!!

A tasty Greek meal with a double ouzo for dessert at Lonsdale Quay was a great way to finish a lazy day in Vancouver......whistling all the way home!

Going up.....feeling a little cold.

Vancouver city in the far background.

Paul did a little whittling while here

Lumberjacks hamming it up while sawing....they still had all their fingers!

Pole dancing - 60' poles.

Log rolling 

Bald eagle

Hawk eye

Hazel the barn owl weighs less than a pound.

Peregrine

Go eagles......Paul flapping about to keep warm

There's a bear in there....

Goldilocks and the 4 bears

On ya bike....Stanley Park, Granville Island and the Fringe

Whimsical Wednesday NOT! Instead of concentrating on being drink fit for this trip I realize now it was probably more important to be bike fit.....Paul is both drink and bike fit. With the weather looking it's best for the week we decided to hire bikes to ride around Stanley Park along the seawall. When we first discussed this I gave the electric bike the nod due to the fact I was curious on how they would feel and how much easier it would be. The rental company we used only had the ordinary deadly treadly.....I really think Paul chose this company as the bike helmet was blue which matched his jacket but then again it might have been the closest to us at the time.

Vancouver bike paths are well mapped and at most times easy to navigate and thankfully pedestrians do get their own seperate path most of the time. There was a couple of hairy moments when we had to ride on the real road.

Paulpedia says that Vancouver is like Perth and Fremantle joined together with the traffic bridges being extremely long and high to allow for the passage of commercial shipping. While riding you notice how many people are out and about walking, riding and roller skating......would be really congested in peak season....the bikes have to go in one direction anti clockwise around the park which is a great idea.  This park which appears to be an island is actually  a well wooded peninsula the size of Kings Park in Perth (or twice the size of Rottnest Island).

Later in the day we rode over to Granville Island which actually is an "ISLAND" located centrally below the Granville Street bridge. Granville is home to an eclectic collection of industrial style buildings which house artistic businesses, breweries and restaurants which co exist with a large concrete batching plant with artistically muralled silos and trucks......all housed on a very tidy site which produces enough concrete to build a 10 storey building every week.

We finished the day off attending a distillery and a Fringe Festival show about Alzeimers.....a great mix after riding all day.....zzzzzzzzz.

On ya bike Stanley

Checking out next week's boat ride.

Whatever floats your boat 

Vancouver Rowing Club

A duck's perspective of the city.

Bridge over (un) troubled waters.

Rock sporting a bad hair day

Silo when I was young.....

Painted concrete wagons....no idea about the spare back wheels.

FYI

City from Granville

Took a photo in case we forgot what we went to see.