Aug 9-11: GOOD BYE HAINES & HELLO SITKA ! ! !

At 9 p.m. Monday eve, this was our last view of Haines, Alaska as the Alaska Marine ferry, Columbia (the largest in the fleet) quietly slid out of the port. I always think of God as I see the sun through clouds like this. He's watching our sailing. It was a special time in Haines.

This is the Columbia as she came into the ferry dock from her round trip from Skagway. It was a 17 hour trip. We didn't have a cabin, so the night was a little rough. We had planned on "toughing" it out. Little did we know that it would be "tough"...not a comfortable place to be found. But once we had our coffee in the morning, things were better. The ferry is huge: dining room, cafeteria, forest service ranger giving talks on various subjects, movie theater (showed Avitar), a solerium, showers, etc. Beautiful ship.

Once debarking in Sitka, after the beautiful trip through the "inside passage", we looked for an Alaska State Parks campground (cuz we get to camp for free there since we were state parks volunteers this summer). We litterally bumped into the park rangers comming out of one of their offices close to the ferry terminal. They didn't have an actual campground but were so hospitable and offered us the parking lot outside of the ranger's "caretaker" cabin at "Old Sitka State Historical Site". What a place!

The salmon were jumping all over the place....and Chris couldn't stand it! He had to go and get his line wet. Didn't take long...and he got a pink (a "humpy").

The fish were jumping so continuously that they were even jumping right next to where he cast his line in the water....it was wierd and funny to watch. I got loads of pictures like this. We are told that they jump out of the water to knock their eggs loose before they start moving up the rivers and creeks. This is still ocean here.

We walked past the Indian River while touring the Raptor Center....and saw this sight of the huge pink salmon run there. There were thousands and thousands of these fish pooling there. This river is totally closed to any fishing so it gives a wonderful place to see the run.

We were sitting right in front of this huge big eagle. This raptor center is a raptor hospital, rehabilitation and education site. This eagle could never be released because about 10 years ago he flew into a power line and had lots of injuries. After recuperating he could never get any lift when he flew. Half of the entire population of bald eagles in north America are in Alaska.

This is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Sitka. The cornerstone was laid in 1844. It is smack in the center of Sitka. Totally awesome. I could talk and talk about this place....won't bore you, though.

This picture does not do justice to the grandeur of the cathedral. There is gold overlay on most of the icons.

At the Sitka Nat'l Historical Site there are 18 totem poles. These are displayed throughout a sitka spruce rain forest trail, the site of a battle between the Russians and the Tlingit Indians (pronounced "clink it") in 1804. They are not of Tlingit origins, but of some other native groups in south east Alaska. This area and the totems are considered sacred by the Native community.

This morning we arose at our Oceanfront B & B rested and seeing sun and blue sky! I may get a chance to get some awesome pictures of the beautiful harbor and surrounding mountains. This city on Baranov Island is positively beautiful and we will be here until Friday night when we again board the Alaska ferry...for a 24 hour sail. Lots more to see. May not get internet until Sunday sometime....who knows....

So, until we "connect" again....