On the SE Alaska Inside Passageway Ferry. August 8, 2014

LOCATION:  Ketchikan, Alaska in SE Alaska

WEATHER:  Cloudy. Highs in 60s

Our ferry route started in Haines at 9:45 yesterday.  We stopped in Juneau to unload and load around 5:00 PM.  In the middle of the night, while we were sleeping, we stopped in Petersburg.  We woke up at 5:00 AM to watch the docking in Wrangell.  Then, we stopped here in Ketchikan around noon today.  We had a 5-hour layover so we went into town.  They say it rains here almost everyday, but we were lucky that we had a sunny day.  

One of the crew recommended a great local restaurant.  We split a halibut wrap, and a smoked salmon chowder.  The wrap was  chock-full of halibut.  It was delicious.

Then, we strolled around town.  Ketchikan is called Alaska's first city, as it is the first one the Gold Rush people encountered  as they came north.  It is famous for its wild old times.  It had a thriving red-light district.  Most of the former bordellos are now shops.  We watched harbor seals catch salmon in the creek that runs through this district. 

 This lady in front of one of the pleasure palaces called Dolly's, chatted up George.

There were 6 cruise ships in town.  They are gigantic.  The cruise people were filling the T-shirt and jewelry stores.

We walked back to the ferry, as we missed the bus.  The ferry departs in a few minutes, around 5:45 PM.  We are scheduled to arrive in Prince Rupert at 1:00 AM.  We did not get a cabin for tonight, so we will try to sleep some in one of lounges.