ALASKA

We can't believe we're here! I am getting the same "pinch me" moment that I used to get when I first moved to Montana (and for about 2 years after). I just couldn't believe that I was there, or that I am here right now. We've been here for one week exactly. Okay, we actually arrived at 1 am last Sunday morning via the ferry, but close enough. The week has been busy with starting my new assignment at Ketchikan General Hospital and we have tried to get the feel of the town. Ketchikan is an interesting town. It's a mix of locals doing their local thing and hoards of tourists coming off of the cruise ships. It's a busy town. Downtown is right on the water and on Ketchikan Creek. It has a really cool feel, part homey, part Disneyland. That may frighten some people, but strangely, it works. Just be careful not to run over some octogenarian blindly crossing the street!


The entire road system is essentially one road running north to south. There are only about 30 miles of paved roads on the island and we are about 13 miles north of downtown at Clover Pass RV Park. I have either a 13 mile bike ride or van ride to and from work everyday. I am trying to ride at least 3 days per week to keep gas usage down and aside from the blowout I had last Monday morning, it has worked out nicely.


The sun rises at 4 am and sets at 10 pm, but it doesn't get dark until about 11 pm. We are SLOWLY getting used to going to bed and waking up to the sun. As an aside, the pups are still on Montana time that means they are raring to go at, oh, 5:15 at the latest. So we have begun going out for our daily hike at 5:30 or so. We are getting an hour plus hike in before everyone else has even put on the coffee.

And finally, the beauty. So far Alaska has not disappointed either Susan or I. After work on Friday we went for a drive on the other half of the road, south from town, and saw a pod of Orcas moving up the straight. One was very close to shore, perhaps 150 yards or so, and some of the others were breaching. Farther along the road we watched salmon jumping in a cove and we passed several waterfalls. Alaska is a wild place and the wilderness is a part of every one's life.


We are so excited to be here and will take this opportunity to make the most of this leg of our adventure. Stay tuned for more stories from "The Last Frontier."

PS. Our temporary address is: PO Box 985 Ward Cove, AK 99928