Ferry, the first and the second.

Wednesday morning, 8am Ferry from Hollis, AK to Ketchikan, AK. One island (huge, but unpopulated) to another island (smaller, moderately populated). This is about a 3 hour trip. I got to listen to a couple of Blue Collar Dudes talk about the stock market, and conclude on a story about how one had gotten a letter from the NRDC, opened it, scrawled "Thank God we don't have a goddamn treehugger in the White House today!," and sent it back, postage unpaid. That's class.

The second, 2-day, ferry ride left from Ketchikan that evening. It looked like this -

We were onboard the Malaspina - originally built in the 50s, periodically updated.

A pretty large ship. 80-100 cars, 175 "Staterooms" (about 6'x10', 4 bunks and a bathroom). "Greasy Spoon" style cafeteria, crusty bar, and a gift shop.

People who don't want to pay for a room either sleep on lounge chairs inside, or set up tents on the top deck. This is, clearly, HardCore mode - sleeping outdoors for two nights on the top of an 8000 horsepower ship is how men are made, or so many a grandfather has said.

Some things from the trip -


Downtown Ketchikan, AK

Sunset on the first night.

In which I learn about Depth of Focus.

In which my Mom takes a picture.

Not a lot of headroom in the bunks. just under 2'...so much hitting the ceiling.


This is a Canadian lighthouse. Which is to say, this is proof that They are Watching. (All of the official Canadian maritime buildings seem to be designed like this - large, well built, with the red and white color scheme. It's a whole lot prettier and classier then our maritime buildings, which tend to just be...old...)