July 6, 2010

Day Trip to Juneau

 

One final major city to see in Alaska and we can’t drive there.  The state capitol of Alaska is isolated from the rest of the state and the world except by air or water.  It also is far from being major population center.  Don’t ask why Juneau is the capital.  Even Alaskans have a hard time understanding why and explaining it.

We traveled with an outfit called Fjord Express.  They operate a fast, small/medium sized catamaran power boat ferry between Skagway and Juneau with one stop at Haines.  The day trip down and back includes two ‘meals’, bus transportation to downtown and then to Mendenhall Glacier, narrated sight seeing along the way, and lots of wildlife viewing.  Total trip is about twelve and a half hours.

We left at 8:00 in gray drizzle. 

The ride was quite comfortable.  A little bumpy because of the smallish boat size but very stable.  On our way in to Haines several days ago, we passed through a Bald Eagle sanctuary.  Didn’t see a thing.  Today fixed that misfortune.  For one stretch we saw at least one eagle every mile, often two or more and in one spot seven or eight at once. 

This is the RV park we stayed in in Haines several days ago from a different perspective.  :)

Cruise ship in Haines harbor.  Pretty much fills the harbor.

We spent some time observing an active  sea lion rookery

and saw several active humpback whales

and some seals.  

Our morning ‘meal’ was a blueberry muffin and juice.  Not much but enough.

The boat dropped us at a pier several miles north of town and a tour bus took us to downtown Juneau.  On our own we had lunch, walked the commercial downtown and walked to see the capitol and the governor's mansion as well as some historic churches.  After about three hours we met the bus for the drive to Mendenhall Glacier just a few miles from Juneau.  Seeing any glacier is spectacular and this was no exception. 

What was different was the number of people there.  This is one of the most accessible sights in Alaska.  A ride of about fifteen minutes on a wide, flat,  paved road.  Tour busses by the dozens bring people from the cruise ships all day long.  People everywhere, tripping over each other.  Clogged trails, full visitor center and a steady stream of busses loading or unloading.  Still, seeing the glacier and lake and learning a bit more at the visitor center was nice.  It would be nice to spend more time on a less crowded day to experience the glacier in some of the numerous ways available but at least we did see it.  Sue’s mother remembers walking on this glacier.  At that time it was just a few hundred yards from the present visitor center.  Today the foot of the glacier is over a mile away from that spot.

Back to the express ferry for the three hour return trip.  More nature watching, and watched gill net fishing up close (40-50 yards away). 

Wanna buy a light house?  This one’s for sale.

 

Our evening ‘meal’ was clam/crab chowder, a roll, and a cookie.  Not a lot but filling. 

Something we have not seen for some time.  The captain had to remind us what it was.  Sunshine.

 

 

The ship we saw in the morning in Haines just being pushed clear of the harbor by a tug boat.

 

 

 

We arrived in Skagway about 8:45 pm.  When we left, there were four cruise ships in port.  It was early so thing were not busy yet.  When we returned we passed two cruise ships leaving and the last one was just leaving when we pulled into the harbor.  Nine o’clock at night and the town was dead.  The streets were empty.  The town had been returned to the locals and they were all at home.  Talk about rolling up sidewalks.  At nine o’clock the next morning (Wednesday) there were already two ships in port and the town was busy again.