Day 9: Ketchikan, kan, kan!

Monday, July 20, 2009
We docked bright and early this morning in Ketchikan, Alaska - our first port stop. Though it was early when we arrived, I was unfortunately awake for it. Sigh. I guess that just means I'll have to nap later on. It's such a tough life...

Docking in Ketchikan

Once everyone was up and moving, we headed off to breakfast. The ship was only in Ketchikan until 2 pm, so we didn't have a long day here. Our plans involved going to a lumberjack show. Once again, it was raining and cool. We almost left without Dad since he was off somewhere and it was time to leave, but he eventually showed up and we headed out, all bundled up. We took a short bus ride through Ketchikan to the lumberjack place. The town itself wasn't particularly exciting - lots and lots of tourist shops but not much else.

Ketchikan, Alaska

We were experiencing the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which was to include various demonstrations of the types of things lumberjacks might do, especially in competition. There were 2 guys per team (US vs. Canada) - we were on the Canadian side, eh. It was fun, though rather loud at times. Sophie did not at all like the noise and had a bit of meltdown. Steve hung out with her in the shop while the show finished. But we saw all sorts of amusing things, from log rolling, to tree climbing, to ax throwing, and lots more.

Sophie not enjoying the lumberjacks

Lumberjacks, doing their lumberjack thing - go Canada!

It was of course lunch time when we got back and then nap time. I believe it was this day that Steve found my cheesy romance novel I was in the middle of reading and decided to read a part of it. From that point forward, he (and then the rest of us) took great delight in coming up with titles for future romance novels that we might write. Steve currently has a good plan about a romance involving Rutherford B. Hayes and his beard. Ask him about it.

Sophie, much recovered for lunchtime, making silly faces

That afternoon, we watched some Muppet Show episodes and then Sarah and I played the most awesome game of yahtzee ever. Well, I thought it was awesome - Sarah, not so much. Yahtzee is not a game I generally win, but everything was going my way. I won 267 to 156 - yay me! In Sarah's defense, she did win the second game, but the score was much closer.

Enjoying a lazy afternoon, watching the Muppet Show - clearly, it's tough to be Sophie

That night for dinner, I learned my lesson and did not order the beef. I can't remember what I did order, but it was better than the steak from the first 2 nights. David, of course, ordered Fettuccine Alfredo. Rui made fun of him :) Tomorrow, we were going to miss dinner since we had dinner plans in Juneau.

A magnadoodle keeps anyone occupied during a long dinner

Our Journey, Thus Far (Part 2)