Yes, Whales Ketchikan May 5

Yep, around sunset we were setting in the camper at the Safeway parking lot looking out our windshield.  We were eating our Safeway dinner. 

AND…….two humpback whales came by…these are the best pictures I could get zooming all the way with a Nikon 300mm lens….

Next thing you know we had a few people around us watching the whales too.  The two guys are tour guides, one girl on the right is a flagger,  the two girls behind Carol are the managers for the big Lumberjack Show they have here.  Everybody talked about where they were from, etc., etc.. Very nice friendly people.  Nobody knew anybody except the two working for Lumberjack knew each other.

We even got invited to a free show for the community tomorrow night at the Lumberjack.  Oh well.  In a few hours we get loaded up on the ferry and gone by midnight to Wrangell.  It’s a 6 hour journey.  No we can’t stay or go to the camper.

We see a moose or two we might as well turn around and go back south.  We will have seen most of the animals several times.  I’m setting here doing this blog and watching a Bald Eagle perched on a pylon.  I think this is pretty close to as good as it gets but wouldn’t mind a few more!

Retirement is not hustling at doing much of anything.

See ya when we see ya….

Ketchikan Alaska May 4th

We started off this morning with sunshine.  That’s the time to go out for sure.  So we stopped for more totem pole shots.

Then we went into to town to look around more.  They have an Elks but the parking lot is no for an RV.  Their appear to be not real active.

Next was the Safeway.  Halibut $24.95 a pound.  Then a liquor store.  Wine boxes are double in price.  Beer wasn’t really that bad.  Liquor was a little high but not real bad like the wine boxes.

Then we went to the tourist stores.  That was fun.  We talked in length with one local store owner.  Another store the guy was making a drum.  He was full of the knowledge of the First Nation people.  He was eager to tell us the stories and we listened.

Carol said to let everyone know we are fine.  The Walmart is 11 miles away.

After all this tiring tourist stuff we went back to our camper site.

Tomorrow night we ferry up to Wrangell.  We’ve planned 5 nights there because of the ferry system.

Another sunset  ..  who hum…

Retirement – Do Not Disturb!

See ya when we see ya.

Sunset in Ketchikan Alaska 3 May

That’s how we ended today. 

But first we went around to some Forest Svc and state parks to check them and the local areas out.  Window tour some,  get out and look some, walk some and did some more.  Here’s some pictures (out of 98) of some of things we saw …….

 

Last Chance Campground…. for you or me?

This guy was sneaking a peek of Carol…..

This ship is Ketchikan's first tour ship for the season.  It came in a day early because of a storm at sea they were expecting.

 

They had a 5 PM rush hour that lasted about 3 minutes and that’s because some old lady was in the crosswalk.

Nice profile…. 

We got the rest of our ferry adventure reserved.  No problem.  We got exactly what we asked for.  Nice ferry agent.  Boy, that sounds a little off.

Reminds of a sergeant I once knew.

This is THE EXPERT (Nathan Jackson ?) in the world for totem pole carving.  How I met him and got a personal one on one tour was a weird by chance to say the least.  Campfire story….

Oh yea, my eagles are landing here in Ketchikan.  The white head is a mature Bald Eagle.  The one next to it is a young Bald Eagle under 2 years old.  They get their white between two and three years old.

Bald Eagles are scavengers and are thieves of others food.  Yes, they fish too but prefer someone else’s fish.  That was a major reason why they almost didn’t become our nation’s bird.  It was in contention with the turkey if you wanted to know.  I read it on line so it must be true.  Nah.. a ranger told me a long tie ago.

We’re getting water right in front of their office.  See the white hose?  The told us too.

And right behind us was…the dump. All free.

Back to just before the beginning of this blog.  AND yes that is a cigar I have and not pot even though it’s legal.

Retired and loving Ketchikan

See ya when we see ya……..

1st Day in Ketchikan Tuesday May 2

The name of this RV park in Ketchikan is Clover Pass Resort.  They have 6 sites, 30/50 amp, FHU, except the water isn’t on yet.  In the laundry room workers were putting the machines together. Got good Verizon service.  In a few weeks I think this place might be very crowded since its a fishing place 100%.  Plus it’s in the Alaska Tour Saver book 2 for 1.  Right now it’s a nice and quiet place except for the rain drops.  The RAIN has left and it’s not even sprinkling.  I think the sun is out this morning.  Key word there is morning.  We’re gonna go in town and see the totem poles and there history, laundry, shopping and of course Walmart for “stuff.”

I just looked up the value of the US dollar vs the Canadian dollar.  It’s at $1.37 today.  Hey folks, charge things while in Canada.  I don’t think it will get much better.  Our credit card doesn't charge us any foreign transaction fees and gives us the current rate.  This is the year to enjoy and spend in Canada for sure!  Our last gas charge in Canada we got $1.36 converted rate.  Damn that’s outstanding.

I looked up gas prices up in the mainland of Alaska and it appears that gas prices are staying under $3 a gallon ($2.75 range).  Here in Ketchikan is about $3.12.

Ketchikan, Alaska

We are here….

The tide comes up just below the green.  We are on the water.

Our site is FHU except the water isn’t turned on yet.  I was talking to the very young owner of this fishing resort when I asked how much?  It’s in the coupon book 2 for 1 night.  He said since the water wasn’t running yet, how was $10 each night?  I almost ripped my pocket getting the money out.

Now to back track to the ferry.  We got to the ferry yard by 1 AM Tuesday morning.  We sat for about an hour and half then they started loading the vehicles.  We went on about 3:30 AM and we were the next to last vehicle.

I had to tuck in our mirrors or we wouldn’t have any.  It’s tight and the workers were all very professional.  The ferry pulled out at 4 A.M. on time.  The ferry didn’t have a lot of passengers and almost all of them were sleeping on chairs, floors, lounge chairs, where ever.  It still wasn’t crowded.  It was quiet except the hum of the twin diesels (monsters).  About 6 AM or so the sun came up.  It was pretty.  They had breakfast.  We brought snacks.  We didn’t sleep well at all.  Breakfast on the boat was reasonable in price all things considered and looked good.

We arrived on time.

We disembarked from the side of the ferry.  That was interesting.  We were next to last to get off the ferry.

Driving off the ferry on to a portable ramp and out the front gate… one shot and got it all done.

Next ferry ride we will bring a blanket or two and wear more clothes.  The ferry was far from being warm.

We are going to catch some shut eye.  The town will have to wait until tomorrow.

Retirement is sleeping when you want.

See ya when we see ya… some this month…

Eagles

We’re about 100 miles East from the Prince Rupert ferry.  Most of the Yellowhead Hwy was next to the Skeena River.  That’s where we saw 6 Bald Eagles this morning.  Only one picture.

Greyhound towing a trailer…

Yes, we let the cat out with no leash at a roadside stop.

These are Skunk Cabbages Carol said..  I don’t know if you can eat them.  Maybe once you get past the smell.

Hard core….

Prince Rupert

We went down to the ferry dock to make sure we could catch a ferry on Friday.  Guess what?  They have a ferry tonight (Tuesday).  We registered/paid/measured (29 1/2 feet) and are due back at 1 AM (Tuesday).  Then we go through the USA inspection and all.  The ferry leaves at 4 AM.  It’s a 6 hour ferry to Ketchikan.  Outstanding!

We went back into town and stopped at the Safeway.  I know that the Safeway here lets RVers stay here with early ferry departures.  We went in asked the manager, Dale, and he said yes.  We’re parked in the extreme farthest corner.  The lot is pretty uneven but we are OK. 

We came out of the Safeway and it was raining.  The kinda rain that gets you wet not damp.

Retirement is enjoying the little things and the big things too….

See ya when we see ya.