I didn't write yesterday because I took some Chinese-based sea sick medication that first gave me hallucination then I passed out for 17 hours. We were in Juneau yesterday. John planned for us to try a whale watch and salmon bake. It is no secret that my favorite whale/dolphins are killer whales. Up until yesterday I've only seen them in captivity. We came to Alaska for adventure, a change of scenery, and whales. The day did not start promising. Like in Skagway, it was cold and raining. To my delight, we boarded a small boat and the rain stopped.
It was a group of 32 of us and a comfy boat with large windows. Definitely built for whale watching. No more than five minutes out, I spotted a tail, which alerted the pilot and captain. Making our way over to the area, we found ourselves surrounded by about five killer whales. It was just like the end of Free Willy. Dorsal fins breaking the surface of the water, followed by a puff of steam from their blowholes. Unlike the whales at SeaWorld these had dorsal fins that stood straight and strong. Some wobbled because they were so tall. The first pair were far away, but a second pair came closer. This pair had a much larger male and pretty female. We chased some humpbacks, but they were boring. One humpback breached his whole body out of the water and made a huge splash. We saw sea lions and eagles. We ended our whale watch with another pair of Orcas just moseying along the shore.
An interesting note: the intern on the boat was from Ft. Myers. The Captain's day job was working for the state, and the pilot was probably drunk. Our bus driver was a younger kid named Nathaniel Hobbs. The young people come here during the summer to work in the tourism industry. I guess in their free time, they enjoy the scenery. Expect all these characters in my next book.
Then we left for the Salmon bake. The salmon bake was an outdoorsy wooded area. The salmon was so pink and definitely fresh. It had a very sweet maple glaze. There was also salmon in the Cesar salad. The best was the delicious wild rice pilaf, and cheesy potatoes. We roasted marshmallows by a campfire in the rain and then went on a hike to a waterfall. There are a lot of local singers in Alaska. This guy sang a song about lost soul and people who come here to find their way.
When we made our way back to the ship, we both passed out, only waking for dinner. The medication made me see the mountains move and trees shift. Then it made me have a serious bout of the munchies.
Today was out final port in Alaska - Ketchikan. It was the one sunny port even though it rains here 360 days a year. Today was also the day we're snorkeling in Alaska. I brought my own mask, which I haven't used since Boston. The shop reminded me of my old dive shop - East Coast Divers in Mass. We donned our cold water gear, which consists of a 7mm wet suit hood, gloves, and boots, and waded into the 48-degree water. It was cold, but not life threateningly cold. Apparently this is a past time for native Ketchikans. The waters were murky, but clear in some spots. The worst part was getting in as that cold water crept into the suit. It felt like knives piercing the skin. After the initial shock, it felt much better. I wouldn't say warm, but bearable. In the water there were a bunch of invertebrates (sea stars, sea cucumbers, limets, sea urchins) and some fish. We also got close to an eagle and uncomfortable close to jellyfish. We saw a wild sunflower star with 16-24 legs. Overall, a great experience.
Our time in Ketchikan was short, so after an hour in the water, we all got out and changed. We made our way back to town and had an hour to spare. We took time to have lunch on the docks. I bought myself a fleece that says Alaska as a fond souvenir.
As I write, we just came back from a lecture about whales by the naturalist. It was very anti-captivity, but I can't blame her after seeing these wild whales. It is where they are supposed to be. Tomorrow night, will be at our last stop - Victoria, BC. I have no idea how we are going to pack all of our stuff, especially all the souvenirs. Then we will drive North.
This has been a great week. I'm itching to check my email, but it's nice to get away. People come to Alaska because it is one of the last frontiers. Admittedly, we only visited heavily tourist areas, but still got a taste of a completely different way of life. I've been watching Alaska TV shows on National Geographic on rerun, because it is one of the few TV channels on the ship. Life here is much different than in "the lower 48." Some come for the adventure, while others come for freedom. I came looking for whales and mountains. I found what I was looking for. I am sad that I probably will not be back for a long time. If ever.
Believe me when I say I've thought about all the jobs I could take if I lived here. I think my 2nd book has a lot more in-depth thought now. I just need to finish the first book first. I've romanticized leaving it all and coming to Alaska to live and write just like the old school style. Then reality sets in. It's a nice thought when you have a comfortable room and unlimited food already paid for. It would be much different in real life.
Yesterday we saw the only McDonald's in Juneau, AK. According to the guide, they sold 17,000 hamburgers their first day. To me it looked rather run down compared to the three-story super McDonald's on I-Drive. Gas, despite being drilled in the Northern part of the state, was over $4.00 a gallon. The people who live here seem to love it.
In truth, I completely over-packed, while John under-packed I should not have brought 75% of the items packed. Like the flip flops. I think I will write a post about packing for Alaska in the future.
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The snorkeling was one of my favorite parts of this trip. It was very well handled and had some great gear. Cold water diving is so much different that colorful warm water diving. Cold water animals are heartier and well-adapted. Nothing feels better than getting out of cold water and warming up from the inside out. Cold water also makes my hair and skin look fantastic!
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