Cruise, Inside Passage 2015
Ketchikan - Vancouver
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After leaving Glacier Bay National Park we travelled overnight, arriving at Ketchikan at about ten the next morning.
We had arranged no shore excursions here, but simply took a local bus tour on arrival.
Ketchikan was previously a centre for timber and fishing, with a large fish cannery. It now seems to live mainly from tourism.
Under way, 4:46 am, just before sunrise.
We arrived at Ketchikan at about 10:00 am
There were a wide range of possibilities, but we chose a bus tour that showed most of the highlights.
Spawning creek.
The back entry to Creek Street.
Here we stopped to see some eagles nesting.
They were a long way away, but one can make out the eagle.
A small waterfall
The black spots were the heads of some seals.
Normally there were lots of seals here,
but at least we had one.
We then visited the Saxman Totem Park
With a huge variety of totem poles.
If a woman stands under this one she will become pregnant!
This was a meeting hall.
Inside the hall.
Then we arrived at Creek Street.
This is Dolly's House
Dolly was a very successful woman.
Looking up Creek Street.
Two respectable ladies at the entrance to Creek Street.
Dolly Arthur
Dolly
They must have had a good relationship!
Dolly again.
Mario waiting outside Dolly's house.
A few old metal signs.
Another view looking down Creek Street.
The creek
This series of photos was taken in a taxidermist's shop.
He had a great variety of stuffed animals exhibited.
Mountain Goat
We then went to the museum just before it closed. This was a movie showing the raising of a totem pole.
This was also in the museum.
I believe this was a killer whale skeleton.
A puffin.
An exhibit at the fire station.
Whale Park down town,
with beautiful azaleas.
Mario making friends.
This display was in a shop window. Some fossils.
This is an original mammoth tusk,
and this one has been made into a piece of art.
The detail was incredible
and Eddie Lee took four years to complete it.
A dancing bear.
We were thankful that this was not our ship!
Ready for departure, 6:00 pm.
Aperitif! Canadian wine that we bought down town.
Taking a selfie in the window.
A beautiful view to the port side.
Mario and Marianne's cabin.
No it is not a volcano!
Overtaking the Norwegian Pearl.
Formal dinner on the last evening.
The table number even matched the occasion. 40 years Kerry and Elisabeth.
The service crew sang for us in Indonesian.
This was another performance.
After dinner treats.
Quite an arrangement.
Take a close look at the legs.
The midships pool.
The afterdeck pool
and whirlpool.
It has been a great experience.
Holland America Line insignia,
The promenade deck.
Our position on my Garmin Nüvifone
337 km to Vancouver, speed, 30 kmh.
My precious pearl!
Travelling through the passage.
We had it a little more comfortable than this fellow.
A little wind!
Note the bare patch here.
They have harvested everything.
Travelling down Johnstone Straight between Vancouver Island and the other islands to the east.
Looking down an inlet to the side of our route.
Johnstone Straight
Aproaching Seymore Narrows, a treacherous stretch of water.
The narrows are only 750 meters wide with currents up to 15 knots, or about 28 kmh.
There used to be an extra hazard here as well, but Ripple Rock was blasted away in 1958, in one of the largest planned non nuclear explosions in history.
Story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripple_Rock
Movie clip of the explosion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOh20xpFmZI
We arrived back at Canada Place in Vancouver at 6.00 am .
We then disembarked and took a taxi direct to Cruise Canada to pick up our motor homes, but that is the next album.