When we arrived, we were greeted by Tom, Judd, and Kevin to help tie the boat up. I've already talked about them, but there is more to follow in this little small world.
Ketchikan gets 160 inches of rain per year, has one traffic light (often only flashing rather than RGY), and is listed among the top 100 "small arts communities" in the US. Although the economy has been structured around the Salmon fishing (known as the Salmon capital of the world), tourism is the major industry now. The airport is across the channel on an Island, and we met the Water Taxi head-man last night at an auction benefit. We attended this benefit for the Ketchikan Arts and Humanities Society last night. The reason we attended was because it was at the Arctic Bar. Our Slip-mates on Puget Lady are owners, but the manager/operator is Paula. She holds the benefit every year, and hoped to raise $6,000 by auctioning off pies, cakes, and cookies prepared by locals. What fun! We feel like we know everyone in the city now. During one bid for an apple pie (that I desperately wanted) the bidding was between "the Judge" who is 88 years old and me. We had just passed through the $250 mark when Paula came over to me and whispered to "let the damn Judge have the pie!! He's about to have a heart attack!". So, I let that one go, but we bought everything in this picture: Rhubard pie, Cinnamon rolls, Blueberry pie, Cherry pie, Cinnamon-raisin bread.
We met and talked to the primary sailmaker, the water taxi owner, the manager of the yacht-club, the Judge (known as quite the womanizer also, even at 88 yrs)....we truly feel at home in this town. In fact, we are now thinking about leaving the boat here this winter, rather than further north.I washed the boat again to try and get all the salt off, and Chris took this picture..
It feels good to get her cleaned up, and ready for the next outing. Don't you love my look? Shorts and boots are now the in-thing. Roger and Diane Byrd are joining us in a few days, and we will take a flight in the deHavilland Beaver to the Misty Fjord unless we decide to cruise back that way. It is about 40 miles or so south of Ketchikan, and we didn't stop there on the way up....This morning, Christy and I organized a hike up Deer Trail. This trail climbs 2,500 feet with great views of the Sound. First, Kap and Ron backed out with sore toes. So we started out with Marty and Linda Ellison (on a Nordhavn 55'), but they turned around after an hour. So then it was just me and "the Coog"... as we began, we ran into a couple who had just gotten off a big Tour Boat. He was wearing an AU hat, so we asked, and sure enough, they were from Clanton (David and Donna). I said we must have some connection in this small world, and they said they only know one doctor, and she is named Tina Wood!! Tina is taking care of Donna's mother at UAB! Who said Ketchikan was out of the way?
The Coog standing under a root-stock on the trail...
Big trees, and they stay green for 40 or 50 years after they have fallen...
Chris with Marty and Linda, just before they turned around...
Great views through the forrest...
Just before we entered the fog, we had this view..
The trail was steep in many places..
This is a view of the area where we saw the Humpback on the way in...
On the way down, we met up with the local family...this little fella said his name was Indiana Jones...
This is Indiana Jones' dog, resting in the snow...
The trail began to get snowy at 2,300 feet...
But still the wild flowers blooming...
And then the trail became hard to pass..
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