Monday, August 30, 2004
We are passing through the Chatham Strait en route to Sitka.  Just before breakfast the ship stops for a view of a lone Humpbacked Whale, probably a calf.   Rosemarie didn't notice that she was alone in the dining room (everyone was on deck), and so missed the whale.  Paul got some video. Later, gathered on the aft deck, we spot several Bald Eagles. One is fishing off a rock.  We also spot several Northern Sea Lions, and some Sea Otters.  We approach and safely pass through the Sergius Narrows in the Peril Strait, a dangerous narrows with a swiftly running current, producing white water.  Later in the morning, Naturalist David Stephens gives a well-received slide show on the native art and culture of the Pacific Northwest coast.  He is an artist and displayed examples of items he's made from a sheep's horn, and from wood including a bentwood box.  He also displayed weavings in the native styles.  His explanation of how a dugout canoe is made was fascinating.

Later in the morning we dock in Sitka.  Although there are people ashore, it is a do-it-yourself proposition.  Third mate, Chris, jumps to a shore ladder as the ship maneuvers close to the dock and then takes the lines around the bollards.  After lunch (chili) we are bussed into town (8900 residents) to see Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Raptor Center, where they nurse injured Bald Eagles and other birds of prey back to health - so they can be released to the wild.  We visited Sitka's National History Park where totem poles and other Tlingit crafts are displayed. The Tlingit are the local Indian tribe who make up a significant proportion of today's Sitka population.   

Behind both the Raptor Center and the National History Park the Indian River flows and can be seen from nature trails.  It is particularly fascinating right now as the salmon are busily spawning, thrashing about in the shallow waters.  After mating they die and the river's banks are littered with bleached dead salmon.   We ended at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.  Instead of shopping, Rosemarie elected to take the bus back to the ship.  Paul walked around town, but found nothing to buy.  A wood carving of an eagle's head turned out to have been made in Mexico.  Although a shuttle bus was running to take the shoppers back to the Sea Lion, Paul ended up walking back.  A cold beer from the ship's lounge tasted good. 

Checked e-mail at the terminal in the lounge.  We all have special e-mail accounts aboard ship.  Messages are accumulated in the ship's server and uploaded to a satellite link 4X daily, at which time incoming mail is also downloaded.  We've had three messages so far.  None today.  Incoming mail is free.  Outgoing is $4.00 for 1000 characters.  So far I've spent $11.00.