Abbotsford

18 July 2014

Getting caught up. This could be a long one hopefully pictures as well.

This morning we went to a restaurant on the water front to listen to a group play over the noon hour it was quite good.  Then we went to Potlatch park there were many buildings and totem poles, one of the poles has feathers on the bottom made out of wood, the children that come there paint these feathers then they are attached to the pole, it is a nice idea to get the children involved.

We got on the ferry around 4:00pm went and had showers, got my pictures together then went to sleep for a few hours.

19 July 2014

Arrived in Prince Rupert around 4am had a good sleep on the ferry so started to drive, and of course it was raining and I rained all day so I kept driving well it ended up being a marathon day, we did stop to watch some natives fishing in Moricetown BC. we ended up driving to Clinton, like I said a marathon day.

20 July 2014

We took the road down the sea to sky highway to Whistler it was quite cloudy most of the way, when we got to Whistler we decided to do the peak to peak even though it was quite cloudy but we thoroughly enjoyed it, we left Whistler around 4:30 and drove to Abbotsford to my friends Corrine & Larry's we are staying here a couple of days so nice to see them and the family again.

                                                                                  Where they do Ocean Ranching

 

 

                                                                   Whale tale

 

 

                                                                At the bear fortress

 

                                                              400 year old totem poles

 

                                         At the Totem Forest

 

Getting eagle ready to release when they cover their head they are very relaxed

 

                                                                The release

 

                                                                    Seals on the buoy 

 

Wouldn't we like one of these with your own helicopter

 

                                                          Nathan the master showing how it is done

 

                                                                  

 

                                                                            Eagles fishing

 

                                                                        Mumma with 2 babies

 

                                                                            Caught a fish

 

 

                                                                            Creek Street

 

 

 

                                                                         Pacific Sunset

 

 

                                                  Check this he looks like he is laughing

 

Will catch up more tomorrow

Ketchikan

Today we spent time this am on the computer getting caught up.. Went to the Totem Heritage
 center very interesting.

Went for seafood chowder for lunch, another delicious one.

After lunch we went to the Alaska discovery Center they showed a film about the Tongass  National Forest it is the biggest rainforest in the world, it comprises of 17 million acres it is huge.it talked about the ego system, the fishing, hunting and logging in the area.

Took a ride on the free bus around the town, can't beat free.

Met the young group for supper they made a meal for 60 people, lasagna, garlic bread salad and chicken, chocolate pudding for desert, yum

We had a devotion and a speaker he was very interesting, I love to see the young ones so interested in the message.

Now we are here at McDonalds getting caught up but no pics yet still to slow.

Next post in Canada

Ketchikan

I am posting all these days in one we are having trouble with wifi, still no pictures they just won't download so when I get back to Canada in a few days I will make a few posts of pictures.

13 July 2014

Tonight we got on the ferry and it left around 11pm we had a cabin and went and had a wonderful shower no timer on that one, then into bed.

 

14 July 2014

Today is a sea day we will be on the ferry until 10:30 tonight, we met a group of young adults who came from all over Alaska they are going to Ketchikan for a mission trip, going to be with the young people and doing some teaching.  We have been invited to join them on Wed to have dinner and a bonfire on the beach we are looking forward to it.  We have seen quite a few whales on this leg of our trip, also some seals on one of the buoys.

I spent the day cleaning up my picture on the computer and getting them transferred over to Ritas computer, it took many hours but passed the time, when we got up this morning it was wet (whats new) and foggy, but as the day went by the sun came out and it was very beautiful. The trip ended up being very nice.  The ferry stopped at Petersburg and Wrangle, very small places but I would have liked to have stayed a day or so on each.

We arrived in Ketchikan at 10:30 and needed to find a place to stay, where else but good old Walmart, yes there is one here.

15 July 2014

This morning we went into town to get a couple more charms for the bracelet we got in Juneau these are giveaways with coupons which we were able to get, they tell us these coupons are for the cruise ship people, well today we were from the cruise ship, we only needed a couple more to complete the bracelet.

We checked the town out it is one of the bigger island towns.  After lunch we went to the totem village of Saxman, one of the master carvers was there (Nathan Jackson) he is very famous for his carvings.  He was doing an interview for a documentary I was lucky enough to be able to see this, he spoke about his life and how he got started in carving.

After we left him we went to Herring Bay and we were lucky to see about a hundred eagles fishing for salmon, the run has just started, and then we got really lucky we got to see bears fishing, so much fun to watch them there was also a mother with two cubs.

 16 July 2014

Today we took a drive to Totem Bite, this place was named by the natives because it was a small inlet and it looked like the piece  of land had a big bite out of it. This was a small walk thru the trees and by the sea there were many totems, a clan house and a restoration center.

We drove to the end of the road nice drive along the water.  Back to town and went to a place that had been recommended to us for burgers very good, good recommendation. Left there and went to a place called Creek Street, this is a boardwalk area along the creek, it is a place where many years ago was a place of prostitution and alcohol, we toured Dolly's place she spent many years as a prostitute, she was even prostituting at age 70, she actually died here. The rest of the buildings are now shopping stores and bars.  We walked to the end of the boardwalk to see the fish ladder, not much action yet.

Supper time we had been invited by the group we met on the ferry, to have supper with them, what a welcoming group, after supper we had a devotion, then I took 8 of them to see the bears, one young girl that lives in Alaska had never seen a bear in the wild, she got to see three.  After this we went for a bonfire and smores what a great evening,  Thanks to all these young people. They have even asked us to come for supper again tomorrow.  Must like having grandmas with them.

17 July 2014

It is still early so we havn't decided what we will do today.  Tomorrow we leave for Prince Rupert.
See you again soon

Leaving Sitka tonight

13 July 2014

Up this morning to another rainy day, I don't know how people can live without sunshine.

Last night I went to a concert at the fine arts collage, this collage runs thru the summer with young students from all over the country, they offer music, dance, art. there are over 2,000 students here at one time for a two week period.
I was at the music finale, the students were amazing at what they learnt, it was a two hour show.

As I said above it is raining, we went to church and after they had a delicious lunch, so good to have good fellowship over a great meal.

Wanted to take a drive up the mountain hoping it would clear up, but of course it didn't so we went anyway, it was a very nice drive very steep and narrow but enjoyed it.

Now we are sitting outside the collage using their wifi then we head out to the ferry in about two hours. getting things we need as it is a 23 hr trip.

Again no pictures hopefully soon they are piling up

Next time Ketchikan hope we get better wifi, but we are lucky to get it at all and its free

Sitka

12 July 2014

Yes we are still here in the rain, one more day then the ferry tomorrow night
.
Today we went to the Raptor center it was very interesting, they try to rehabilitate
the birds, the ones that can't be repaired stay in the center or go to zoos in other places.

Well today they released 4 eagles back into the wilds, most of those were only there for a couple of weeks.  One of them that was released had been found by a fishermen floating in the water it had no strength to get out and fly, the couple that found it was there today and was able to hold it to release it.  When they found it they called the center and was told how to get it out of the water and to cover its head and wrap it up so it didn't get too chilled.  The lady who found it showed me the pictures of the capture.

Went for clam chowder and salad for supper, we are going to the arts school tonight to see a performance, more about that when I get back on line.

Again no pictures, I will have a lot to show you when I get a good wifi connection.

Have a good one y'all

Sitka

11 July 2014

Another rainy day so you put on your raincoat and off you go.  We started by going to the St  Michaels Orthadox Cathedral very different way of worship.  It is Christian and they have many icons for this religion.

Went to a coffee shop and had a bagel and coffee.  What else to do on a rainy day.

Drove around and saw the Russian Blockhouse, in the 18^th century the Russians had a battle with the Tlingit natives.  The Russians had built a fortress and what is left is the Blockhouse. 

The Tlingit still are here today they are beautiful craftsman, you see a lot of their work around town.

We put on the rain coats and went to the Totem Pole park the walk thru was very refreshing in the rain, many different Totems, inside the visitors center was a film and some very old (400yrs) Totems. Great to see these

I went to see the Bishops house it was built in the 18^th century and was taken over by the Forestry Service  in 1972 and it was restored to its original state with many of the original artifacts.

 

Again no pictures too slow for that

In Sitka

Had to get up at 4:30 this morning to get checked in for the 6:30 ferry to Sitka, It was a bright morning and the trip was beautiful, we saw whales one even breached, beautiful sight.  There were a couple of bears along the banks.

Arrived in Sitka around 11:00, left the ferry and went to the end of the road to the north, then went the other way to the end it is a very pretty island.

We stopped at the Fortress of the bears, these bears have been orphaned or they were a nuisance to the community.  They are so playful it was so good to see them playing and having fun, we watched them for quite awhile.

We came back into town and went to a Russian dance show, it is a troupe of 30 girls, not all were dancing but they put on a good show.

Rita was having trouble with her leg today so we didn't do too much walking,  I went for a walk in the downtown area all of 4 blocks, it is a nice little place.

 Finally I have been able to download a few pictures more to come soon.

                                                                This is the style here in Alaska rubber boots even with skirts

 

The next few pictures are on the trip from Haines to Juneau

 

                                                                   Rainbow glacier

                                                                                                                                      

 

                                                           A pod of killer whales

 

 

                              The next few are from Juneau

                                                                         The Red Dog Saloon 

 

                                                             St Teresa's shrine

 

                                                                  Check this fence out (Skis)

 

                                                                 Mendenhall Glacier

 

                                                 Waterfalls at Mendenhall Glacier

 

See you soon