Alaska vii

Pictures in Ketchikan: A picturesque picture of the harbor. This looks like a picture to be painted, Motif #2, right, Val? We rode on this ferry from the island to Ketchikan, got there about 10 am and had twelve hours to kill until the other ferry. First we went to the park where there were several totem poles - Tina in her pink rain coat and matching vinyl boots - too cute. There was a large house meant to resemble a gathering place for the native Americans above this park. We could have gone in to see a program including dancing and singing, but we decided to go for dinner instead and shopping for souvenirs (made in China). I was so tired from staying up late the night before and getting up early to leave the cabin and get to the ferry.

Jan and I went into the museum that tells the history of the area. Did you know there is such a thing as "temperate rain forest". This area is one of the largest remaining. It's different from the tropical rain forest, obviously, because it's much cooler. But it does the same thing, which is provide moisture and oxygen for the whole earth. We also went into the mall which was small but fun to wander thru. There was a quilt store, that I was very excited to find. I had heard of it from one of the ladies in the quilt guild. I only bought a couple pieces of fabric - gotta have it!

And we had an ice cream. Tina looked into the yarn store. If I'd known there was a movie theater there, I would have gone. See Tina in her pink rain coat crossing the Ketchikan street.

We killed some more time, I was so tired, I felt like I was weaving instead of walking. Finally it was time to get on the ferry. Jan and Ken took their air mattress on and settled onto the floor in one of the big rooms. Tina and I found some chairs with reclining backs in one of the lounges, tho she elected finally to sleep on the floor. We took a luxurious shower and slept for the eight hour ride. Then, it was the 36 hour drive back to Utah. We watched DVD's and relaxed - musicals like "Sound of Music" and "Oklahoma". When we drove thru SLC, it felt so strange to me. It was so warm and there were soooo many people. Who would think that warmth and population could become so strange after only one week of being on an island in Alaska.