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| All smiles as the adventure begins in Sitka |
This post is going to be as much about the incredible trip we had to Alaska as about running a trail in the 31st state of my quest to run a trail in every state. Kendall, his brother Steve, Steve's wife Kitty, and I signed up for a "Glacier Bay and Island Adventure" small ship cruise with Alaskan Dream Cruises. It was amazing - just 38 passengers, an attentive, competent, fun-loving crew, cultural adventures and mind-boggling wildlife and scenery. Astounding. Plus I got in four trail runs and one back-and-forth-back-and-forth run along a dock. Oh! And a Polar Plunge! Here's just a glimpse into what we experienced.
Sitka and Cruise Day 1
We arrived in Sitka the day before we were to get on the ship (Chichagof Dream). Happily, Sitka also has a National Historic Park with trails! The Alaska trail happened in a hurry! Yes, the park had trails and totems, bald eagles, so many salmon you could practically walk across their backs to cross the river, and lush rain forest foliage - but it also had the hugest, loudest ravens I have ever seen or heard. When I first entered the forest and heard those ravens I was thunderstruck. That, even more than the huge puddle of bear pee I saw along my run, had my nerves jumping!
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| Southeastern Alaska: Rainforest!!! |
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| Zillions of salmon run the Indian River in the Park |
Two of the many Totems along the Sitka National Historical Park Totem Trail
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| The first of many many bald eagles we saw during the voyage...this along my first Alaska trail |
After the run, on-land cruise activities started. One stop was to the Fortress of the Bear bear rescue center. I think the Alaskan Dream folk wanted to impress upon us that Thou Shalt Not Mess With Bears. (Kendall took this photo - hooray for zoom lenses!)
Then it was on to the Chichagof Dream and off we go!
Cruise Day 2
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| First light |
We sailed off to a bay along Admiralty Island where Steve and I kayaked - smoooooth paddling and beautiful, misty scenery.
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| Steve and I at the ready |
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| Kayaks at the ready |
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| Misty, beautiful, oh so peaceful |
Next stop was Kake, a Tlingit village where we met with a totem pole carver followed by a trip to a fish hatchery (and bear sighting!) and capped off the visit with dancing.
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| Garden seen along the road to town |
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| Seen on the other side of the river. Phew! |
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| Master totem carver |
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| Describing a totem |
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| Tlinget dancers - always start with their backs to the audience to show their clan regalia |
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| Then we join in - a young Tlingit checks out Steve's eagle footwork |
Cruise Day 3
On this day we visited Petersburg, a town founded by a Norwegian (Peter Buschmann) in the 1800s. This visit offered an opportunity for another trail run (this one along the Hungry Point Trail through muskeg (boggy) land) as well as the chance to enjoy a performance of Norwegian dances presented by school kids who also served up homemade Norwegian pastries. Quite the treat! As we sailed away from Petersburg we reveled in sights of stellar sea lions, whales, and the evening sunset and moon rise over snow-capped peaks and glaciers.
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| First light as we near Petersburg |
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| Petersburg harbor |
Our introduction to Petersburg:
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| Sailors Memorial |
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| Greeted by Norwegian dancers/school children |
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| The decorated hall |
Followed by our rambles and sights from around town:
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| View from one of the muskeg trails |
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| Truck garden |
A couple of the 12 cannery-label trash cans found around town:
And art work...
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| Art work at the docks |
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| On an outside wall of the library |
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| Quilt inside the library |
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| Man Cave |
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| Birdhouse |
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| Yard Art |
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| Porch garden |
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| Leaving Petersburg ... |
It was a good day.
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