Ketchikan

Ketchikan.  This city is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World" and although we did not fish we did see a ton of salmon.   It also has the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles (which is an excursion you can take to experience them, as well as lumberjack shows and fishing trips).  It's climate is known as an "oceanic climate" which basically means it's like living in Scotland or Northern Ireland, cool although with much more rain.  The average highs the whole time we were in Alaska was around 65* with the lows in the lower 40*'s, average rainfall in Ketchikan is over 153" per year.

Their downtown area is fairly compact an easily walkable.  However, the day we were there it was raining and so windy that it was pretty miserable so after our float plane tour we walked a few blocks and headed back to the ship for warmth, wine and food.

It is set in the southern most entrance to the famous Inside Passage of Alaska.

There are literally thousands of waterfalls in Alaska.  All of the photos you will see in my Travel Diary here are all taken by Dan or myself unless otherwise stated.  Of course you will be able to tell the professional ones taken of us on the ship.

Our ride for the morning is a float plane, we decided to use a company called Shore Trips (which you can find on my website www.mycruisegirl.com) to book our first excursion in our first port,  the trip consisted of a short bus ride to their office where we boarded a plane that sat only 4 (plus the pilot, shore trips only takes a few people on their excursions at a time so it is always a good idea when using them to reserve your excursions early as they may just fill up, they run several a day but if you want to get your perfect time then do it quickly)  he took us to a stream where there were known black bears, we did see one but the rest must have been sleeping.  Also he flew us around to see the area and we did manage to see a family of grizzly bears, but we were too high up to get any good photos.  He landed and let us stand on the floats to watch the salmon, and then at the next area we landed he drug the plane towards the shore and we walked around looking for Eagles.

Yes this is misty rain, for the most part in Alaska that is all we got, daily rain and cold winds.

From inside our float plane.

In our float plane skimming the water.

This is where we were watching the salmon jump, I was standing on the flats of the plane.

This is the salmon hatchery where our little black bear was sneaking in for some lunch.

Our little bear trying to sneak into the salmon hatchery to catch some fish.

Our pilot landed close to the shore, got out and pulled the plane in so we wouldn't get our feet wet !

Dan standing on the slippery rocks Bear Hunting 

From high above, such a beautiful view.

This is our family of grizzly bears, see in the center by the stream?  I know we were up too high, but they were easily visible by us, just not so much the camera.

 

A lighthouse on our way out of Ketchikan

All aboard again sailing away from Ketchikan.  View from our balcony stateroom.

                                                                                There are literally thousands of water falls in Alaska, we took a lot of photos but I think this one is the best.  I do have to say Dan was a wiz with the camera, he got some great shots.

Back on the ship we hit up the casino for a few spins on Sex and the City and the Hangover. 

  Then we caught the disco empty as not everyone was home yet.  Anywhere you walked in the ship though there was music playing.  Several duo's and trio's throughout the ship.  And usually a couple dancing to the tunes.