Hanging Out in Ketchikan

Yesterday it rained ALL DAY. Okay, I exaggerate. It stopped for about a half hour once at about 5pm. I worked most of the day from the boat, and then in the afternoon when it was just drizzling (and not raining sideways anymore), I walked up to Tongass and exchanged my Xtratufs for one size up…then hopped on the bus into town and explored a bit, just to get out and walk…wet as it was. I picked up a rain hat with a brim, and then hopped off the return bus and grabbed a few things at Safeway before walking the rest of the way back to the marina. (That's the bit of time when it wasn't raining).

Today though, the weather was glorious. I woke up at 6:30am to sun streaming through the portlights and a square of blue sky over my head showing through the hatch. I still worked most of the day here on the boat, but this time with the windows and doors all open letting the fresh air and eagle sounds in.

The open doors and windows also let in the sounds of the Ketchikan Duck Tour soundtrack, which consists of a snippet from Hawaii Five-O followed by a snippet from Gilligan's Island. These amphibious tourist machines crawl down the boat launch about every half hour, turning from a car into a floating bus while several dozen people snap straight-faced photos toward our boat while the amplified tour guide pretends he's really excited. Again.

Anyway. I went for a walk this afternoon, and here are some photos.

This photo isn't from today. It's from the other night when we were walking home from having dinner at the Bar Harbor Restaurant, but I forgot to post it. I like the mood:

Tomorrow afternoon I'm meeting up with local Ketchikan artist Ray Troll to tour his studio and take his portrait. On Wednesday I think I'll head out to Saxman Village to check out some more totems.