I had just one more stop before it would be time to say good-bye to Alaska. I knew I had only touched the proverbial iceberg, but what an astounding visit. I spent so much time outdoors, cold or not, just held hostage by the breathtaking beauty, and now it was time for a little reality check in Ketchikan Alaska.

Ketchikan was poetically charming and as the sign declares, Alaska’s First City! The entrance to the city was of course what one would expect stepping off a cruise boat. Jewellery shops galore, and endless souvenir shops for that last chance tee-shirt, all fought for the coins in the purse. I headed off toward the old historic part of town where the whore houses and dead salmon haunt the wooden boards.

I wish I could say it was a lovely amble across the raised wooden boardwalk, but what a smell. Be thankful no one has come up with smell a blog yet. It was stomach churning odour. It was that time of year and hundreds of salmon had done their bits and now were dying on the rocks, or lying about rotting.  Even the rats had had their fill. What an odour!  Fish for lunch…think I will pass! What I enjoyed was the little sign posts along the way, a great way to learn about the surroundings. The style of the signs were very fitting for the area which well…was not an area where ” proper ” ladies dare venture!

So with the rotting fish smell overpowering, it was time to get some fresh air and go to a Lumberjack show. How can you pass that up?  It’s all good fun, loads of  axes chopping wood bits, and Lumberjacks roaring at each other. An interesting combination!

Then after all the wood was chopped it was time to  climb up a pole! After this, it was time to leave say Goodnight to Alaska and even though I did not really see Alaska, I got a good feel for such an amazing place!

I really could have spent a month there exploring. Well, till next time. Good night Alaska, sleep well!