Ketchikan, Alaska

 This was a cool drizzling day. Ketchikan is known for its cloudy year round rainy days. They rarely get below freezing here, which surprised us to learn. We took a tour trolley to see the sites. We saw a sunken ship, several bald eagles, and visited Saxman Village; a native village of the Raven & Eagle clans. All are welcome to live there. They're a friendly and welcoming community. It was cool to see street signs in their native language. We even got to see the famous Nathan Jackson at work on a new totem pole. He used a chainsaw and both Dad & Perry said, "Where's his protective eye wear??" I guess when you're almost 90 yrs old, you probably don't care.

From the internet: Nathan Jackson (of the Tlingit Raven clan: Yéil Yádi) is the most famous and celebrated totem carver in Ketchikan and an NEA National Heritage Fellow. He was born in 1938 and has been actively working in Alaska Native arts since 1959. His work is world-renowned, and he even has pieces featured inside the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Something else of interest, totems only last a decade or so before they deteriorate. When totems need to be retired, they carefully lay them to rest on the ground and let the earth reclaim them naturally. I thought that was cool. I enjoyed learning about the native cultures in all the Alaskan stops we made. I felt a solemn respect for how well they keep their traditions alive. 

The trolley ride was missing a glass panel on the side where we sat, so we were wet and cold. The blankets they offered helped, but dad & Jo couldn't take it and moved to the other side. Odd that a trolley tour in a location known for constant rain, would have open air transportation. 

We stopped at a salmon hatchery site, where bears are often sited this time of year. But we did not get to see any bears. Just lots of incredible eagles. We did buy some freshly smoked salmon and a locally made root beer at a shack before we boarded the trolley to go back. That was a tasty snack and a new root beer brand to add to dad's list. While waiting back at the shuttle pickup to go back to the ship, dad ran over and bought the local favorite "Jellyfish Donuts". The 4 of them agreed, they were delicious. A freshly made warm donut on a cool day really hit the spot.