off at a tangent

ALASKA 4 – Lynn Canal on m.v. Fairweather via Yankee Cove to Skagway.

After departing toots from the ss Rotterdam and a good breakfast at the Baranoff Hotel in Juneau a group of us (my Wisconsin friends, Math & Evelyn among them)boarded the bus to take us for our walk, this time to the bottom of the Mendenhall Glacier.  The rain & cold did not dampen my spirits, loved the walk and the sheer beauty of the place.  Onto the bus again(with interesting history) to board the m.v. Fairweather down the Lynn Canal.

“Lynn Canal (5-19km wide) is a narrow scenic passage in the East North Pacific Ocean.  It was name by Capt.George Vancouver, in 1794, for his birthplace King’s Lynn, England.  South of Haines the canal divides into 2 inlets, one west to Chilkat River, the other through Taiya inlet to Skagway.  The canal is home to many fish,humpback whales & northern Steller Sea Lions.” (Britannica.com).

Too beautiful to miss the misty beauty of this fjord, the birds & looking out for humpback whales (never saw any) in spite of the rain & cold & only went inside for lunch, taking as many photos as possible. Only 3 of us outside.

Another unforgettable moment on my Alaskan adventure occurred at Yankee Cove (& this time everyone came on deck.  The captain asked us to remain silent, the engines were also silent & as we came close to the rocks, he whistled to the sea lions & they came  to the edge of the rock.  Overwhelming  beauty & the sound of silence.

Alaska- walking to Meldenhall Glacier from JuneauALASKA -mv Fairweather on Lynn Canal to SkagwayAlaska-Juneau:Skagway mv%22Fairweather down Lynn Canal 1987ALASKA -mv Fairweather on Lynn Canal to SkagwayALASKA - mv Fairweather, Les Eyer from MichiganAlaska,Yankee Cove-Captain-whistling to the seals from FairweatherALASKA -Yankee Cove, from mvFairweather 1967

 

Skagway, from the Jack London story “Call of the Wild” read it.  Home to the Tlingit people from pre-historic times, gold mining & from 1897-1898 described as “worse than hell” & the infamous Soapy Smith (Wikipedia). We were staying at the Hotel Klondike.  Walked all over the little town by myself and/or with Math & Evelyn, heard familiar accents on the main street & ran into 3 Australians from Newcastle, NSW. It was sunny in Skagway, talked to many folk and took more photos.  Loved every moment of Alaska, USA.,wish I could have stayed much longer.

Tomorrow , just as exciting, the Whitehorse Pass & YUKON ,Canada.Skagway Alaska main street June 1987Skagway Alaska walking June 1987Skagway,Alaska 1987Juneau-Alaska from s.s. Rotterdam 1987Meldenhall Glacier,Alaska- bus:walking 1987

Dorothea V

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