Dispatch from Prince Rupert

June 8, 2010

It's a good thing that Joyce keeps notes, because we now have been so many places that if I do not update this each night I sometimes forget what we were doing on a given day.

Left Campbell River and drove north about 150 miles to Port Hardy. Some roadwork that we had to stop for a couple of times. Lots of trees, places where they have logged. Joyce and I agreed that we saw nothing wrong with the logging as long as they left 'old growth forest' alone. I have heard grumbling from some Canadians about not liking all the exporting of their natural resources. A few signs that say “ban logging exports”.

Arrived in Port Hardy, found a motel and checked in. Since we needed to be at the dock at 0515 it was the best thing. Went to the visitors center and asked where we might find eagles at. Young lady directed us down the beach where some usual hangout. We got there but did not see any and were getting ready to return when a couple flew over our heads and headed out over the water. They were after a meal and we watched them chase a bird. The bird got away but it was neat to see how they cooperated with one another in the chase.

After that we stopped for ice cream. Too close to dinner but Joyce was starving and I did not discourage it. Ate dinner, hooked the camper back up to the car and retired to our room for the night.

June 9,2010

Up way to early. 0400 and the sun was not up yet. Drank our coffee and tea, did the necessary things and out the door at 0450. In line by 0515 and loaded on the ferry by 0700. Then to Pursers office to pick up keys to the Aurora Lounge where we had reserved seats for the trip. 15 hours of beautiful scenery at approximately 19MPH. Saw a whale, pod of Orcas, porpoises and a few eagles.

Met some nice people which made the trip more enjoyable. I don't know whether Joyce and I need more interaction with people other than each other or if people finding out where we are from are just really interested in us. I think it is both. It seems to me that it is different than a lot of the other trips we have taken.

Needless to say, we were quite tired by the time we got to Prince Rupert. 10:30 at night so we stayed in a motel once more. Can't say we got a good nights sleep but it was better than trying to put the camper up that late at night.

June 10, 2010

Things to do this morning. Joyce is doing laundry. I went to Alaska Marine Highway office and modified our itinerary. Instead of getting off the ferry in Ketchikan for 5 days, going to Wrangell and staying 2 days and then to Juneau and staying a couple days, we decided that we would rather just get to Haines. I re-booked, added on a full service cabin and actually got a refund. Seems the getting on and off costs more. We will leave at the same time on Saturday and arrive in Juneau at 9:30 Sunday morning. We will catch the next ferry at 3:30 and arrive in Haines at 7:30. We will have a few hours to see some of Juneau.

Next to check into a campground. Took the camper and parked it in our spot and then went back to the motel for Joyce and lots of clean clothes. Hooray!!!! Set the camper up and went exploring.

Our first stop was a walk through rainforest to an overlook to Butze rapids. These rapids are unique because they switch directions twice a day. When the tide goes out it drains a lake upstream and when the tide comes in it fills the lake, thus the two way rapids. When we got to the overlook it was at 'slack tide' and the rapids were not visible. However, Joyce did find several new flowers. Our walk was a round trip of 3.6 kilometers. Then we just drove around looking at things and got to the wharf area and there was the biggest damn ship we have ever seen. The Norwegian Star had docked with it's huge load of 'Cruisers'. We continued down the street and suddenly we were at a B&B named Eagle Bluff. Joyce had seen a photograph of a tree with 8 eagles in it. Figured we would never see that. Wrong, not 8 but 5 and others flying all around. Someone was dumping fish out for them and some came within 50 feet of us. Joyce got some good pictures and I got a couple. I seem to have trouble focusing the camera. Made a change in one of the settings and will see how that does.

Talked to a man and his son as we were walking over to look at the sunken gardens. He said if we really wanted to get close to eagles, we should go to the dump. He told us where it was and we may go there tomorrow. While talking to him he said there was a big storm coming in tomorrow and was supposed to rain for 4 days. We have decided to motel again tomorrow, since we don't want to pack up in the rain and we have to be at the Ferry terminal at 5:15 a.m.