Around Town

Friday, July 9, 2010
Sitka's a pretty small town and getting around on foot is easy. It rained overnight and in the morning the clouds and drizzle are still there when I start out to explore. At the far end of town is a national park that marks the site of the Russians' battle with the native Tlingit in 1804 when  Russia established dominance in the region. Today the park is a gathering place for numerous totems representing a variety of carving styles. I walk along a path through tall trees and I am nearly alone. Several runners pass me, but it is early and a cruse boat in the harbor has not yet unloaded today's daytrippers. The totems are remarkable examples of craftsmanship, and each of the many figures has their own meaning. I don't know the proper meanings, so I make up a few of my own.

At the other end of the park, there is a trail back out to the main road, and I follow it to the Alaska Raptor Center, a private organization which rehabilitates injured birds of prey. Actually, they say they take in all birds, including hummingbirds. A big indoor flyway houses some of the birds, mostly bald eagles while they relearn to fly. Lucky is here - he flew through a FedEx plane prop, and Phoenix had a run-in with a trash incinerator. Both are regrowing a lot of lost feathers, but prognosis is good.

Further on a museum houses an extensive collection of Native arts, crafts, and everyday items. I am intrigued by the graphic styles and hope I can find a small book of examples to take home. Books in the gift shop are pretty big. I'll keep looking.

Back in town I have to stop at Old Harbor Books, and the attached Back Door Cafe. One of my favorite mystery authors, John Straley, mentions it in his books and apparently is a regular there, but I don't see him today. Pizza and Latte for me. 

 

 

 Tonight is an unexpected event - The Fourth of July. Sitka had to reschedule their celebration until today due to miserable weather on the fourth. Sunset is about 10pm, so that puts the fireworks at about 11:30. But before the fireworks, the townspeople gather along the waterfront and on the bridge for a candlelight vigil for three Coast Guard men from the local station who were recently killed in a helicopter crash. Touching tribute.

Into Sitka

Thursday, July 8, 2010
Before I left home, I got a number of e-mails from friends that had a some common threads - namely: fishing (are you going), and bears (don't get eaten by). I take this as evidence that Alaska is widely known for fish and bears - I'll look for both. On the way up here, the first question I get in airport waiting areas, or on the plane is “are you here to fish?” On the plane there is a large number of burly men with facial hair talking about fish, so I know I am going to the right place. The plane I picked up in Seattle had started in Los Angeles and would make stops at  Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage before ending it's day in Fairbanks.

I arrive at Sitka early, landing at Rocky Gutierrez
International Airport, and the weather is STUNNUNG.

Everyone is saying that it's never this nice, but it has been sunny and 70 degrees for two days now.

After checking in at the hotel it is a short walk to a wonderful bistro for chowder and Cesar salad, where I sit next to a man who is in town upgrading equipment for the National Tsunami Warning Network. Next to him is a man intently photographing his food with a huge camera. Turns out I am sharing the bar with a team from AAA Magazine, on the road for an Alaska photo shoot. After dinner I walk around a quiet town to get oriented, and meet one of the AAA folks back at the hotel to give her some of my sea sick meds for their boat trip tomorrow. Colorful sunset at 10 o'clock completes the day. 'll get a chance to explore more tomorrow – I hope the weather holds.

Happy Fourth

Sunday, July 4, 2010
I fly up to visit Lisa, and there is a small town fireworks show at the high school and I take some pictures that I have to share. It is a great time with folks of all ages scattered on lawns, front porches and empty lots with blankets and beach chairs. The grand finale really knocks our socks off. 

 

Packing for Alaska

I'm packing my bags for my first trip to Alaska. I've been to most states, but seem to have missed several of the corners - Maine, Florida, and Alaska. They cannot be more different - from each other and from the rest of the states, and I've always wondered about them, so this is my chance to find out a little. I'll fly to Sitka on the 8th after a stopover at my sister Lisa's place in northern California. A couple of free days in Sitka to get acclimated, and then a week on a National Geographic "cruise" (god, I hope it's not a CRUISE). The Sea Bird is a 152 foot, 60 passenger vessel that shuttles seasonally to Baja or the Inside Passage. Flip Nicklin (I'll have to ask him about that name), a National Geographic contributing photographer who migrates from Hawaii to Alaska with the humpback whales, will be onboard. I am taking it as a good omen that he choose to schedule with us on this trip. There should be migrating humpbacks as well as orcas to see.

My hope is to post daily blog entries to keep track of all there is to see. Photos, maybe video this time if the internets smile on my endeavors.

Being onboard and settled for a week makes it easier to bring gear without major concerns about packing/unpacking or running to catch the next shuttle bus. That means I can bring more lenses, tripods, or computer gadgets than I might have on other trips. Should be fun. I'll find out later tonight if it all fits.