Juneau, cold, wet, and grey

A small blog today with not a lot to tell you. We were up at 2.30am to catch the 4.45 ferry from Sitka to Juneau. None of us got much sleep so it was with much relief that we were asked to board about 3.30. Straight to the lounge where we tried to get back to sleep. Collette was the only one successful.

It was raining in Sitka and it continued all day. Not heavy but a steady soaking, just enough to discourage going outside.

As dawn broke the ferry was going through a very narrow passage. Fog and mist was so thick the banks and islands were hazy blobs. We could just see through the fog a crewman standing in the bow keeping watch. It was nice to know they were there even with the wonders of GPS. It was a surreal feeling as we inched our way along.

The scenery stayed grey all day. Grey sky, grey mist, grey land and grey water. I didn’t even think about taking a photo.

Ten hours later, at 2pm we arrived in Juneau, tired and a bit frustrated by the weather. The rain had eased up enough for Collette and I to try our first Alaskan camping adventure. Nicky and Peter felt more comfortable back at the Alaskan Hotel so we split up for the night. There wasn’t much we were going to achieve any way.

Four cruise boats in town again. Not very many in town enjoying the sights.

Gull wharf

So after a bit of grocery shopping we drove to the campground, checked it out, and paid for a deluxe campsite. The deluxe has a pergola and table and chairs to help out in the rain. Great idea and worth the extra $7 per night.

The rain eased off enough to erect the tent without getting too wet. The pergola sure is handy.

All set up it was time to start cooking dinner. The pergola in the next site looked far enough away that if a bear came looking we should be safe.

Camping with bears is a serious enough issue for the locals, even though they sound a bit casual at times. So as novices with bears we are taking it seriously too. Both cans of bear spray will be in the tent with us and within easy reach. We have also been loaned a bear horn that we are assured will frighten bears away. It may be an interesting night.

The cook in the next door kitchen

Another one pot wonder. The blue gadget in the foreground is the bear horn. Hope it works.

News Flash: Just saw a black bear wandering through the campsite.