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Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023

Ketchikan

Our first “real” Alaskan stop was at Ketchikan.  We arrived early in the morning, which was good because for some reason we weren’t here long – we had to be back on the ship and ready to depart by 2:30, which meant there really wasn’t an opportunity to explore the area.

This was also the first of our cruise excursions – the “Misty Fjords and Wilderness Explorer’.  Essentially, this means that we climbed on a smaller boat and rode around looking at the wonder which is Alaska.

That’s not to minimize it.  The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful here.  You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting natural beauty in every direction.  In retrospect, though, 5 ½ hours was a bit much.  Maybe 3 ½ hours with a little time to explore the town would have fit better.  

The Misty Fjords National Monument

As we ventured deeper into the Misty Fjords, the scenery became increasingly dramatic. Towering granite cliffs, shrouded in mist, rose from the emerald waters of the fjords. Waterfalls cascaded from forested cliffs, creating a symphony of nature's sounds. The Misty Fjords truly live up to their name, with an ever-present mist that adds an ethereal quality to the landscape.

One highlight of the trip was cruising through the majestic Rudyerd Bay, often described as the "Yosemite of the North." The bay's sheer walls, adorned with vibrant vegetation, left us in awe. It's no wonder that Misty Fjords is often referred to as "nature's cathedral."





Surprisingly, the guy who did the narrative – the cruise director – was from Oklahoma and graduated from OU.  I guess it just shows that a geology degree doesn’t necessarily lead to the oil field.  He was entertaining, though, and provided lots of facts about the natural features of the area.  They also were able to point out a bald eagle’s nest and we got to see a few whales, even.

Lunch on the boat was New England Clam Chowder.  I’ll just leave that here and let the irony seep out.

One thing we can say is that this cruise – like the one to Antarctica – is extremely low-impact.  There is little scheduled that can’t be done with a cane or artificial knees, although wheelchairs and/or a walker might be a bit difficult on some of the entrances or exits.

Back on the ship in time to sail away and it was a low key afternoon evening.  


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