The Totem Day
We left the ground at 7:45 with Alaska Seaplanes for Juneau. Loved the flight over the Inside Passage. The water was still and various shades of green and blue were overlaid with white wispy clouds. We were in Juneau about an hour then off to Sitka on Alaska Airlines. Two very different experiences. On the first we were picked up at our campground by the lady who would check us in. No one asked for ID, just weighed the bags and off we went. The second was the full TSI deal. Travel was nicer once. In Sitka we taxied to our little cottage on Monastery Street, emphasis on little and this from people living in 90 square feet for a month. Lovely town. No cruise ship today so not everything is open. We walked around town and then to the Sitka National Historic Park just a bit over 1/2 mile along the waterfront. The park celebrates Tlingit (clink-it) culture. There is a visitor center with native craftspeople. I really liked talking to the carver, Tommy Joseph, who is very famous for his work in Alaska. Cindy chatted with the the bead work lady. The highlight of the park is the mile walk through the rain forest with 25 or so totems. The ravens and the eagles were all high in the trees calling and the sun was out, it boarded on a magical time and place. Then we walked back to town. It was hard to find an open restaurant so we settled on the Mean Queen where I shared a pizza with Cindy for the first time in our over 50 years together. My half had no cheese. I finished the day down at the docks photographing eagles. “Just sittin’ on the dock of the bay.”
Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint
I knew something was afoot. I stowed away in an unused mail sack and found myself airborne again. I am such a natural pilot. This plane was bigger. The surprise came when we alit at another plane parking lot and the guides got on a very big plane. I had to scramble to figure out how to get on but I just looked very official and, as a natural leader, was able to amble right on board. Of course it was a tight fit in the storage compartment for the antlers but I squeezed in and settled down but by the time I did we were in another plane lot. I barely made it into the taxi, the guides were surprised yet most certainly pleased that I made it. We are in yet another non-Moosey environment and the Driver has no vehicle I think I detect withdrawal shakes from him. This place is nice but not what I signed up for, except for the good lattes and fresh bagels. Almost civilized here. Still, I need to get to the main part of Alaska or I will be late for my own rallies. Not good. Too much at stake. I expect we will leave in the AM as that has been the pattern. Just in case I think I will get a pilot’s hat then maybe I can drive the plane.
