Ketchikan

Our last Alaskan port of call is famous for 132 inches of annual rainfall.  Ketchikan did get more snow than usual last winter, but normally they get about 20 inches.  The ocean protects the town from more.  The rain is welcomed by most homeowners.  Outside the immediate, metropolitan area, there is no water or sewer.  It’s all rock and about 1 inch of soil on top.  Most are completely dependent upon rainwater for their houses.  Elaborate and effective collection systems exist.  On Wednesday the region received heavy rain.  Our kayak tour guide “harvested” 15,000 gallons of rainwater which is used for all customary household needs.  Since digging a septic system is impossible, waste is collected in a system and incinerated.

Our activity today was to get off the ship and explore the waters around Ketchikan in a kayak.  Howard and Rachel guided us.  First into our outfits

And then around the waters. 

For those with keen eyes the slight blurriness around the edges of the images is the result of a waterproof housing I used for my camera.  Salt water is deadly!  The enclosure can also serve as underwater protection for the equipment, but our objective was to enjoy the scenery without swimming.  Success!

Eagles are more plentiful earlier in the summer.  They are still in Alaska, just not near Ketchikan in robin-like numbers.  Still, you can see them.

There is a bright sun outside our stateroom this afternoon.  With the dots of clouds we are hoping for a beautiful sunset.  Even when there isn’t a bright sun the scenery is spectacular.

 One piece of advice for visitors; do not feed the wildlife.  It can be dangerous to humans, but more often it is fatal to the birds, bears, deer or other critters.  It is obvious this seagull is being fed regularly by cruise ship passengers.  It will sit patiently on the railing waiting for food, a bad learned behavior.