I’ve often found myself wondering what Ketchikan would look like if we visited it at a decent hour rather than so painfully early in the morning. As it is we arrive at 7am with most f the ship’s residents still wrapped in slumber (except the real enthusiasts and well…us), and the ship herself wrapped in a thick blanket of fog. This particular morning it’s so foggy it’s difficult to even see the town from my office windows – we could be anywhere.
Later on in the day the rare sight of the sun greeted us as we stood blinking and slightly wide-eyed for general drill. Sun in Alaska is unusual to begin with. Sun in Ketchikan ? Practically unheard of.
Aside from Creek Street, (the old red light district which now house at least one very cool gem-shop in which I could spent several hours and most of my paycheque), there isn’t really a great teal to Ketchikan, especially now that the salmon run is nearly over (though I did catch a glimpse of some of them today). Once we leave port the entertainment becomes the race with the Golden Princess – the ship we battle with every week in an attempt to see who gets to Victoria first (whoever wins ends up in port at 6 instead of 7).
For the record – we left her in our wake.
Ahh I remember racing the sapphire last summer, now that was good times. Coffee or tea sitting out on deck 10 on a break silently (or sometimes not) cheering the captain to gun it!
Yeah, with tea in one hand and a cigarette in the other as I recall (for you, not me). Man I hated the Sapphire! always responsible for getting me home late!