JUNEAU - DAY 2

OUR day started calmly and ramped up fairly quickly!  After a bit of a lie in, Paul made pancakes and coffee for everyone to fortify us for a long day touring.

First up, a bus tour of the Capitol City.  There is considerably more to see than one might expect in a town of only 38,000!  The Capitol building itself is unique in that it was the federal building for the territory of Alaska prior to statehood.  The state got the better deal, as the new federal building built after statehood is an ugly box compared to the clean lines and marble columns of the old!

The State Capitol Building - formerly the Territory's Federal Building

A newly born Tlingit is welcomed by the clans of the Raven, Bear, Frog, Eagle, Orca, and Wolf
 on this amazing mural on the side of a downtown building.

After seeing both old and new in Juneau proper, we headed out to see the Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass National Forest.  Along the way, we saw dozens of Eagles congregating above creeks and streams in anticipation of the Chum Salmon run.

Did someone ring the dinner bell?

You'll just have to trust me - those splashes are salmon!

Eventually, we arrived in the Tongass National Forest at the foot of the Mendenhall Glacier.  NO. WORDS....

Mendenhall Glacier left - Mendenhall melt right

Paul and Mom at Mendenhall Glacier

In addition to the Glacier itself, we stopped in the visitor center for information on local flora and fauna and spied salmon, porcupine, and some beautiful flowers along a trail near the nature center.

A curious squirrel stopped by to say hi to Paul

Pink salmon made an early appearance in the Mendenhall River

Another tree, another eagle!

A porcupine snoozes in the treetop

Anyone??

Our day was only half over when we came down off the mountain and headed for Auke Bay.  Helping Mom onto the boat was our biggest challenge, but eventually, we figured out that the long haul down the dock would be more efficiently achieved if she sat on the walker seat and I just pushed it -- and just like that, the journey was done!  We headed out the channel and in less than 20 minutes were snapping whales...

 Thar she blows

The hump of a humpback whale off the starboard bow

That's a whale of a tail!

Aboard our whale watching vessel

Regaining firm land, we picked up a quick dinner, snapped a bit more of the amazing scenery, and headed back to our lodging to find that the cruise ships had cleared out and we got our best view yet of the Juneau waterfront from our Douglas Island nest!

 The Chilkat Range in the sun -- a rarity according to the locals

A spectacular view of the Juneau waterfront, sans cruise ships, from
Douglas Island across the Gastineau Channel

JUNEAU - DAY 1

2:15 a.m. arrived much too early after a scant 2 hours sleep.  The Ferry has to unload Juneau passengers and cargo, then load passengers and cargo bound for Haines and points north and west departing Juneau at 6:00 a.m.  The boat crews are very efficient at this task, if somewhat cavalier about my sleep needs! 

The view from our cabin window at 03:00 on 16 July 2018, in port, Juneau.

Surprisingly, we were able to disembark, exit the terminal area and, with the help of WAZE, find our Air BnB apartment without a single hiccup in spite of being deeply sleep-deprived!  We parked at the curb of our accommodation at 04:30 expecting a minimum 90 minute wait to check in, but our hostess (may God bless you, Kathleen) spotted us just after 05:00 and waved us in while she did a quick change of the linens (the previous guest had departed at 03:45 to catch a 05:00 flight)!  By 06:00, Paul and Mom were comfortably sacked out in their respective beds while I posted yesterday's blog before crashing.

The view from our Air BnB apartment overlooking Juneau harbor
and the MANY cruise ships in port at this time.

I managed to grab 5 hours sleep before rousing the house for our first excursion -- a gold panning expedition capped by a salmon dinner buffet alfresco:

Paul polishes his panning technique at Gold Creek outside of Juneau

                       Nine flakes make this a successful pan.                    Paul poses at Gold Creek.

 Snowmelt continuously feeds Gold Creek -- the source of pioneer wealth and Juneau's freshwater supply!

After the work of finding gold -- a great dinner Creekside.

Returning to our digs after a busy afternoon, it's time for laundry, writing, and a good night's sleep!  Tomorrow we're off to find whales!

Mom settled in to relax while Paul took a last look at the view before our Monopoly game to top off our day!

IN ALASKAN WATERS

WE were awakened this morning to the sound of clangs and bangs and a seaplane taking off as the Ferry docked at 6:00 a.m. local time in the port of Ketchikan!  We were allowed off the Ferry for an hour, which got our feet (at least Paul’s and mine) onto Alaskan soil for the first time!

We’ve entertained ourselves with the magnificent views, some chatting with fellow travelers, lots of time on our respective electronics, and some “glassing” for wildlife both on shore and at sea!

Mom still enjoying the view and her iPad as we travel

Early this afternoon we sailed into heavy overcast, fog and light rain, which hasn’t made the scenery any less amazing, just occasionally harder to see!

WILDLIFE SPOTTING SO FAR...

 I took this one as much for the size of the tree floating by as for the gaggle of gulls riding it!

 Did you find the third one?

 Two trees, two eagles!

Unfortunately, the presence of these Sea Lions on the marker at Petersburg meant no Orcas in the area!

I’m posting late today because we didn't have internet when it was time to post. We plan to load our stuff into the van during the “open car deck” period around 8:00 p.m. and just stretch out on our bunks in our clothing, ready for the 2:30 a.m. “warning call” and subsequent docking at, YIKES, 3:15 a.m.

More from Juneau on Monday!