Alaska's First City

 Ketchikan became know as, "Alaska's first city" due to it's strategic position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, connecting the Gulf of Alaska to the Puget Sound. - Thank you wikipedia. 

Today (4-19-21) we made our way to the big city - Ketchikan, Alaska, our first real town since leaving Friday Harbor on April 6th. We were so looking forward to seeing Ketchikan again, walking on land, having cell service and wifi and having access to markets and stores. Jeff and I along with the Pollak family visited Ketchikan while on a cruise for Jeff's 50th birthday many years ago. As we made our way closer to town we called the harbor master and were assigned a slip in Thomas Basin - one of three basins in Ketchikan. We didn't know what to expect and made our way to our slip. All the boats docked at an angle and the there were no cleats like we were used to only wood beams which I'm not the best at tying at. Once secured we took a look around at the commercial fishing basin we were in. Not many other cruisers here. Not too bothered by it (yet) we immediately stepped off the boat and felt the solidness of the dock under our feet. 14 days since we last stepped on solid ground and my legs were feeling it. We both were in need of a good long walk to work out our stiff legs. 

Right in front of the marina is famous Creek Street an old red light district of Ketchikan which is home now to shops, restaurants and great views of the creek. Normally this area is bustling with tourist and cruise ship passengers but now due to the Covid-19 restrictions in Canada no ships are allowed to come to Alaska and Creek Street was dead. Shops were closed, restaurants boarded up and nobody to be seen. It was really sad. We both felt sorry for all of those business owners who depended on the tourist business in order to survive. We continued meandering around and quickly got through the area since nothing was open. 

Heading into Ketchikan

Thomas Basin Marina

Docked at Thomas Basin

Creek Street

Creek at Creek Street

We decided to continue on for a while longer checking out the rest of town and stretching out our legs. As we walked past the harbor and the tourist areas we noticed a lot of the same as Creek Street. Everything was closed except for two jewelry stores. It was so sad and it reminded us of a third world country. After walking the main streets for a while we decided we had seen enough for the day and decided to head back and enjoy our new marina. Sometime later as we were sitting on the aft deck we heard a knock on the boat and turned around to find Chuck and Margaret from our marina in San Diego standing there. They spend their spring and summer in Alaska and happened to be in Ketchikan the same time we were. We were so excited and happy to see some familiar faces. They came aboard and we told them the tales of our transit and thanked him for his great local knowledge helping us along the way. Small world.

Closed Down Ketchikan 

Us in Front of Ketchikan Sign

Chuck & Margaret from Cabrillo Isle Marina-San Diego

After a really nice visit with Chuck and Margaret we said goodbye and said we would see them again before either of us departed. Jeff and I settled in for some happy hour drinks and fishing boat watching.

The next few days are what you would imagine once in port - work days. I started dealing with the heaps of laundry that had piled up over the last 14 days. Jeff did some boat work - changing dingy oil, cleaning sea strainers and things you wouldn't want to do at anchor. There was boat cleaning to be done inside and out and lot of walking to catch up on. We picked up our mail we had shipped here and Jeff made a bank run. We had hoped to try some local outside dining but unfortunately all the restaurants were closed. Several bars were open but they were all indoors and we weren't really for indoor activities just yet. Even though we are fully vaccinated we are still nervous and especially since nobody in Ketchikan wears a mask inside or out. Having wifi and cell service we caught up on phone calls with family and just settled in. 

Yesterday we switched marina's to Bar Harbor Marina per Chuck's recommendation and when he and Margaret left we took their slip. It's much quieter here and much nicer for cruising boats with the Safeway at the top of the ramp. This afternoon we will provision and head out in the morning. We also found a fellow gold looper here right in front of us.  It's been such a nice week in Ketchikan and nice to slow down and get some things done. 

Lots of Eagles Here

Ketchikan Water View

Sea Plan Landing in Front of Us

Bar Harbor Marina at Night

Gold Loopers