on the ferry & Sitka

the ferry

This ferry is not luxurious like a cruise ship, but VERY nice for a ferry. It includes a snack bar, dining room, bar, movie theater, cabins, murals, a puzzle station, & a variety of seating areas both indoors & out. 


The solarium on the upper deck is the ferry equivalent of the campground on the edge of town where people pitched tents, installed a queen-sized blowup bed, & spread out sleeping bags on lounge chairs. 


While someone was playing the piano & singing in the bar, this guy had set up a serious work station, & one lady was painting rocks (no pic). 

views from the ferry

Along the shore, we saw a whale, a Sitka deer (no pics), & lots of beautiful scenery. 






Sitka

The ferry docked in Sitka for 2 1/2 hours, & we were allowed to get off the boat for 2 hours. A bus & a couple of vans were waiting there to take anyone interested on a quick tour of the town. I opted for one of the vans hoping to see more of what I wanted to see - success! 

The Sheldon Jackson Museum is spectacular. He began collecting native artifacts in the 1800's & collected from all over Alaska. The building is beautiful, the collection is carefully arranged, the artifacts are amazing, & the curation is excellent. 

     







St Michael The Archangel Russian Orthodox Church is a spectacular remnant of the Russian settlement here. 






*   *   *   *   *

Wildlife sightings (not counting those in the conservation preserve or the aquarium)

--> --> today: an orca whale    

        a Sitka deer (small with a black tail)

--> --> trip total so far: 

    black bears - 6          deer - 3                grizzlies - 1            moose - 8

    stone sheep - 8        elk - 1                   caribou - 15            bison - 42    

    Dall sheep - 11        porcupines -1         mountain goats - 1       lynx - 1

    trumpeter swans - 32+        many bald eagles    black oyster catcher - 1 (rare)

    sea otters - 27             harbor seals - many     

    many sea stars & jelly fish        Dall's porpoise - ~ 20

    North Pacific Humpback whales - 2 pods of ~ 12 each + 1

    Stellar's sea lions - many, 100+ incl 60 pups in 1 spot (counted by scientists)


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