Ketchican's weather is mild by Alaskan standards. An average temperature is 45 degrees with little snow. The average rainfall per year is a total of 160 inches, raining 224 days to reach this total. People say that if you can't see the top of Deer Mountain it's raining, and if you can see the top it's about to rain. This doesn't dampen the spirits of the residents or visitors here because Ketchican is an ideal city to wander about. Strolling along the waterfront there are quaint buildings, totem poles even in front of Victorian homes, Ketchican Creek running through the town, summer and spring watching the salmon run, shops with native crafts, jewelry, basketry.
On summer days cruise ships will unload as many as 10,000 tourists, transforming the town into a thriving business venture, then evening comes, the streets empty, and the ships move on to the next port.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Revisiting America
Ketchican lies in what has got to be the world's least likely spots for a city.
A first impression might be that the city is built on stilts, half over the water and half on the steep mountainside. Located on an island, its buildings are jammed against a mountain,thick with trees, and strung along the water front.
There are twenty miles of roads, not counting city streets.
Ketchican has been given many nicknames, "first city of Alaska," "Salmon Capitol of the World,""Birthplace of Alaskan Pulp Industry," and "Totemland."
Nearly all of Southeast Alaska, stretching 500 miles from Ketchican to Yakutat, is in the Tongass National forest. The towns sit in small pockets of private land surrounded by 17 million acres of land controlled by the U.S. Forest Service-an area nearly as large as the state of Maine, and considerably larger than any other national forest or national park in the United States. The vast majority of the land has never been logged and with the decline of the logging industry preserves one of the world's great temperate rainforests in its virgin state. A treasure to be enjoyed by all.
A first impression might be that the city is built on stilts, half over the water and half on the steep mountainside. Located on an island, its buildings are jammed against a mountain,thick with trees, and strung along the water front.
There are twenty miles of roads, not counting city streets.
Ketchican has been given many nicknames, "first city of Alaska," "Salmon Capitol of the World,""Birthplace of Alaskan Pulp Industry," and "Totemland."
Nearly all of Southeast Alaska, stretching 500 miles from Ketchican to Yakutat, is in the Tongass National forest. The towns sit in small pockets of private land surrounded by 17 million acres of land controlled by the U.S. Forest Service-an area nearly as large as the state of Maine, and considerably larger than any other national forest or national park in the United States. The vast majority of the land has never been logged and with the decline of the logging industry preserves one of the world's great temperate rainforests in its virgin state. A treasure to be enjoyed by all.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Revisiting America
One of the really fun parts of the trip is meeting my new landlords at each new place. Nicole and James Church are from California and own an orchard. That's all I know at this point but you'll know more about them in time. I do know they are very keen about their accomodations being acceptable to their renters. Haven't found anything lacking so far, except maybe a rolling pin and I may not have discovered it yet.
The apartment is upstairs which gives me a good view of the water and I can clearly see float planes landing and taking off, as well as other ships in the channel. Their property is very wooded, but with several covered seating areas as well as cooking facilities outside. I have a large bedroom, two queen beds, several chests of drawers, big closet, foyer with a closet with washer-dryer and other cleaning necessities, large bath with shower, big kitchen, fully equipped, big table in the eating area and aquite adequate living area. TV in living and bedroom areas, clocks everywhere, night lights, wonderful other lightning, sometimes lacking in lots of places. You get the idea, what more could I need. Oh, and a corner, gas, fireplace, which makes for cozy.
The apartment is upstairs which gives me a good view of the water and I can clearly see float planes landing and taking off, as well as other ships in the channel. Their property is very wooded, but with several covered seating areas as well as cooking facilities outside. I have a large bedroom, two queen beds, several chests of drawers, big closet, foyer with a closet with washer-dryer and other cleaning necessities, large bath with shower, big kitchen, fully equipped, big table in the eating area and aquite adequate living area. TV in living and bedroom areas, clocks everywhere, night lights, wonderful other lightning, sometimes lacking in lots of places. You get the idea, what more could I need. Oh, and a corner, gas, fireplace, which makes for cozy.
Revisiting America
In fact, there is no way you can get to Ketchican except by water. You can fly in to Gravina Island, but you still have to take a ferry across the sound to get to town.
Hence, the ferry ride, which was quite nice actually.
The wait to board the ferry was the hardest part eventhough I didn't have to check out of my motet until noon, but I'm finding out, no one seems to be in a hurry. Finally boarded the ferry around 4:30 after walking around the Fairhaven area, full of shops and restaurants, and considered to be "Bellingham" by some.
The MVColumbia was a nice, big, cruise ship, with my car on board.
The Alaska Marine Highway System, with an eleven-ship-fleet, serves a 3500- mile route and 33 ports, with an estimated 320,000 passengers and 97,000 vehicles anually. This ship can carry 499 passengers and 134 twenty foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth cabins and 59 two-berth cabins including 3 ADA cabins(I don't know what that means so I really shouldn't mention it except the brochure did). There was a cafe, open 24 hours a day, full service dining room, cocktail lounge, movie theater, gift shop, a video arcade, ice and vending machines, lockers and showers for walk-ons, laundry facilities, and all staterooms with private restroom and shower facilities. A forward lounge on the boat deck as well as an observation lounge on the cabin deck, and an enclosed, heated solarium with the most comfortable easy chairs to sit and enjoy the scenery. What more can you ask? And the food was quite good.
Hence, the ferry ride, which was quite nice actually.
The wait to board the ferry was the hardest part eventhough I didn't have to check out of my motet until noon, but I'm finding out, no one seems to be in a hurry. Finally boarded the ferry around 4:30 after walking around the Fairhaven area, full of shops and restaurants, and considered to be "Bellingham" by some.
The MVColumbia was a nice, big, cruise ship, with my car on board.
The Alaska Marine Highway System, with an eleven-ship-fleet, serves a 3500- mile route and 33 ports, with an estimated 320,000 passengers and 97,000 vehicles anually. This ship can carry 499 passengers and 134 twenty foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth cabins and 59 two-berth cabins including 3 ADA cabins(I don't know what that means so I really shouldn't mention it except the brochure did). There was a cafe, open 24 hours a day, full service dining room, cocktail lounge, movie theater, gift shop, a video arcade, ice and vending machines, lockers and showers for walk-ons, laundry facilities, and all staterooms with private restroom and shower facilities. A forward lounge on the boat deck as well as an observation lounge on the cabin deck, and an enclosed, heated solarium with the most comfortable easy chairs to sit and enjoy the scenery. What more can you ask? And the food was quite good.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Revisiting America
I'm moved to tears most mornings when I walk. It's like watching a slide show, the scenery changing every few seconds, the clouds moving, making the sun shine differently on a mountain top, being able to see such distances, cool breezes blowing, and several mornings temps in the upper twenties. What more can you ask.
My last day in Twin Bridges was not busy, even though I hadn't done much toward packing, etc:. So, Marsha was going to Butte and asked me to go along for the ride There was a sale at Herberger's, similar to our Belk, and she had sale coupons. We went a different route than interstate and the scenery was awesome, yet different than what I'd seen anywhere. Anyway, we shopped, another trip to Walmart, then supper at a very nice restaurant, home the interstate route, and tackled my car-loading, with the help of Marsha, and set my clock for five the next morning.
I certainly won't go into detail about leaving because it's the same each time. My stay has been great, I've met such wonderful people, the town of Twin Bridges has much to offer, and I will miss being there.
I took I-90 West and arrived in Moses Lake, Washington around 4:00 p.m. which was enough driving for the day and too, realizing I'm going to be a day early catching the ferry to Ketchican.
Just a half-day driving got me to Bellingham. I checked out the ferry terminal, found a nice Best Western and settled in for the rest of the day. Nice restaurant so I didn't have to drive anywhere for supper.
I'm really wondering what the ferry will be like. The ticket guy said bring plenty of reading material, snacks, and walking shoes, so it looks like my 32 hours will lag a little. It will be something I haven't done before and it is the way of getting from point A to B, rather than driving the road to Prince Rupert, against my landlady's advice. Since I'm booked round-trip I'll at least know what to expect on the return trip. I didn't check on Internet-WIFY connections, so I have no idea if I will be able to use my computer. But, I'll be ready for a fresh start when I get settled in Ketchican.
My last day in Twin Bridges was not busy, even though I hadn't done much toward packing, etc:. So, Marsha was going to Butte and asked me to go along for the ride There was a sale at Herberger's, similar to our Belk, and she had sale coupons. We went a different route than interstate and the scenery was awesome, yet different than what I'd seen anywhere. Anyway, we shopped, another trip to Walmart, then supper at a very nice restaurant, home the interstate route, and tackled my car-loading, with the help of Marsha, and set my clock for five the next morning.
I certainly won't go into detail about leaving because it's the same each time. My stay has been great, I've met such wonderful people, the town of Twin Bridges has much to offer, and I will miss being there.
I took I-90 West and arrived in Moses Lake, Washington around 4:00 p.m. which was enough driving for the day and too, realizing I'm going to be a day early catching the ferry to Ketchican.
Just a half-day driving got me to Bellingham. I checked out the ferry terminal, found a nice Best Western and settled in for the rest of the day. Nice restaurant so I didn't have to drive anywhere for supper.
I'm really wondering what the ferry will be like. The ticket guy said bring plenty of reading material, snacks, and walking shoes, so it looks like my 32 hours will lag a little. It will be something I haven't done before and it is the way of getting from point A to B, rather than driving the road to Prince Rupert, against my landlady's advice. Since I'm booked round-trip I'll at least know what to expect on the return trip. I didn't check on Internet-WIFY connections, so I have no idea if I will be able to use my computer. But, I'll be ready for a fresh start when I get settled in Ketchican.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Revisiting America
Yesterday I met Bill Nicholls at the Museum, it's closed now but Joy Day, sorta in charge of the library and a doer in the town, arranged to open it and have Bill meet me there. He's 92 years old, very bright and articulate, and knows the history of Twin Bridges and the area quite well. I will spend more time about him in the book, but we were able to talk for awhile and and I enjoyed the many exhibits in the building, which in itself has quite a history.
Then I was able to meet Jerry Kustich, partner of Glenn Brackett, at Sweetgrass Rods. I'll let the paragraph on their brochure describe Jerry. Can be found on a stream testing anything from flies to waders to pentagonal bamboo designs, he has become an advocate for public access to Montana's rivers. Author, writer, devoted environmentalist, rod designer, and dedicated angler, he spends much time on the road as a fly fishing ambassador lecturing on and representing the ideals for which all serious fly anglers stand. Most interesting person, well educated, former teacher, painter, and goes by their motto," fishing makes us better rod builders.
After meeting these two owners of Sweetgrass Rods, I can see where their "Promise" comes from. "Our rods will always lead to water, enlighten your life, enliven your fishing, and heal your spirit when it is ailing." And I do have an autographed copy of Jerry's book, "At the Rivers's Edge", which I can hardly wait to read.
I will leave tomorrow for Bellingham, Washington to leave on the Ferry, Friday, for Ketchican. I have no idea about Internet access, WIFY, or anything like that on the Ferry, so I'm not sure when I will blog next.
You're so well aware, already, that there is no schedule for my blogging.
This has been my shortest stay anywhere and why I ever thought there would be less to do and write about, I don't know. It has been short, but great. I will be in Alaska a full month though, arriving on Sunday, Sept. 25th, and leaving Wednesday, October 26. UNTIL---------------------------
Then I was able to meet Jerry Kustich, partner of Glenn Brackett, at Sweetgrass Rods. I'll let the paragraph on their brochure describe Jerry. Can be found on a stream testing anything from flies to waders to pentagonal bamboo designs, he has become an advocate for public access to Montana's rivers. Author, writer, devoted environmentalist, rod designer, and dedicated angler, he spends much time on the road as a fly fishing ambassador lecturing on and representing the ideals for which all serious fly anglers stand. Most interesting person, well educated, former teacher, painter, and goes by their motto," fishing makes us better rod builders.
After meeting these two owners of Sweetgrass Rods, I can see where their "Promise" comes from. "Our rods will always lead to water, enlighten your life, enliven your fishing, and heal your spirit when it is ailing." And I do have an autographed copy of Jerry's book, "At the Rivers's Edge", which I can hardly wait to read.
I will leave tomorrow for Bellingham, Washington to leave on the Ferry, Friday, for Ketchican. I have no idea about Internet access, WIFY, or anything like that on the Ferry, so I'm not sure when I will blog next.
You're so well aware, already, that there is no schedule for my blogging.
This has been my shortest stay anywhere and why I ever thought there would be less to do and write about, I don't know. It has been short, but great. I will be in Alaska a full month though, arriving on Sunday, Sept. 25th, and leaving Wednesday, October 26. UNTIL---------------------------
Revisiting America
where was I when it disappeared? I think I was saying it was one of the most picturesque scenes I've seen on the trip. We talked for several hours non-stop and I left with an autographed copy of her book, "Charles and Me". Her suggestion was to have me come back and have some pictures made at the schoolhouse that I could use for our book. She mentioned a friend photographer but not sure if she was in town. Hope that works out, so far it hasn't, but I'm satisfied that I was able to meet and spend time with her.
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