In Sitka, we enjoyed another relaxing day. With no rain, we jumped at the opportunity to take an extended walk into town and beyond. There are no docks in Sitka for cruise ships, so we were anchored at our customary spot a mile or so from downtown. After a ten minute ride on the ship’s tender, we arrived at te Regent’s dock and stopped in Work & Rugged Gear Store to buy Jerry an all-weather coat (he forgot to bring one from home, and could not find anything in Jan’s Norwegian sweater store in Skagway). We continued our trek past a few shops on the town’s outskirts, Sheldon Jackson College, several totem poles, the Sitka National Historical Park Center, and the tall trees of the lush Tongass National Forest. Once in the forest we walked among fabulous moss-covered spruce and hemlock trees, crossed the bridge over the Indian River, and stopped to view hundreds of salmon fighting their way upstream to spawn.
After we exited the Tongass National Forest, we traveled another 300 yards up a highway to Sitka’s Raptor Center, an open bird habitat and Eagle Flight Center (although we did not go into the flight center on this trip). This facility is home to injured bald eagles, owls, hawks, and other birds of prey. After snapping dozens of pictures, we made our way back down the hill towards the highway and town… entering through neighborhoods and listening to children on the playground during afternoon school recess. After another 20 minute walk, downtown Sitka reemerged where Jerry took a few last-minute photos while Jan talked to her Mom on the cell phone.
Our traditional last stop in Sitka is always The New Archangel Trading Co., a store near the waterfront that sells homemade fudge by the pound. It’s very tasty, and we force ourselves to dole it out sparingly for the next several days. The ship’s tender returned us to our floating hotel. As we pulling up anchor shortly thereafter, our Captain made the decision to do a little bay cruising just because we could before departing the sheltered waters for Hubbard Glacier. The larger cruise ships cannot get into the bay and safely turn around, but we even got to see a seal playing, and fabulously lush mountain sides falling right down to the water’s edge. What a great way to leave Sitka as the “mist” began to return.
After we exited the Tongass National Forest, we traveled another 300 yards up a highway to Sitka’s Raptor Center, an open bird habitat and Eagle Flight Center (although we did not go into the flight center on this trip). This facility is home to injured bald eagles, owls, hawks, and other birds of prey. After snapping dozens of pictures, we made our way back down the hill towards the highway and town… entering through neighborhoods and listening to children on the playground during afternoon school recess. After another 20 minute walk, downtown Sitka reemerged where Jerry took a few last-minute photos while Jan talked to her Mom on the cell phone.
Our traditional last stop in Sitka is always The New Archangel Trading Co., a store near the waterfront that sells homemade fudge by the pound. It’s very tasty, and we force ourselves to dole it out sparingly for the next several days. The ship’s tender returned us to our floating hotel. As we pulling up anchor shortly thereafter, our Captain made the decision to do a little bay cruising just because we could before departing the sheltered waters for Hubbard Glacier. The larger cruise ships cannot get into the bay and safely turn around, but we even got to see a seal playing, and fabulously lush mountain sides falling right down to the water’s edge. What a great way to leave Sitka as the “mist” began to return.
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