Little Towns, Bears, and Cruise Ships

Although it was sunny when we left Petersburg, it was raining by the time we reached Wrangell. Marianne made a fine dinner while we were underway, and went ashore in our foulies to search for something for dessert. As the cruise ship had already left, the only thing open in town was the ice cream parlor, run by a guy who really didn't like scooping ice cream, and discouraged the ordering of large sundaes.

Next day, on to the Anan Bay bear observatory. The observatory overlooks a Anan Creek, which is chock full of salmon beating their shinny heads against the rocks trying to get upstream. Watched a bear wake up from a snooze inside the cave, yawn, saunter over to the edge of the creek which was an eddy full of salmon, and grab one out without even trying.

We also saw a momma bear and two cubs on the trail on the way back to the boat. I prefer bear-watching when the bears can't pounce on me, if they feel like it.

The folks renting the US Forest Service operated cabin at the edge of the bay, were kind enough to let us use the float reserved for the cabin. So we didn't have to fuss with figuring anchor rode for a 20 foot tidal difference. That was nice. They left the next day by float plane.

The rangers live in a floating cabin in the bay for a week at a time. Its a little more bear proof than the other cabin.

Saw a few bald eagles the next day in the trees just ashore of where we were moored.

Spent next (rainy) night at Meyers Chuck, which can hardly even be considered a town. A few houses with docks, connected overland by a narrow path through the trees. About the only ammenity on the island was a pie baking and delivery service run by Cassy.

Next day we left (again in the rain) for Ketchikan. After 6 days, it was nice to be able to take a shower and do some laundry. My foul weather gear was really starting to smell foul.

There were 4 cruise ships in Ketchikan while we were there, giving it kind of a Disneyland-like atmosphere. On a nerdier note: I noted that utility repairs must be fairly easy in this town, at least the don't require digging. Lines aren't buried. They're suspened under the roadway, which is kind of built out from the hill, or suspended under building built over water.