Day 7 – Monday 22nd May – Glacier Bay to Ketchikan

Ketchikan claims to be the world capital of salmon and there is a lot of evidence in the town of its links to the fish and the fishing industry.  It is also “boasts” to have one of the highest levels of rainfall in the world!  We can verify these claims on both fronts!

The cruise ship terminal is close to the oldest part of the town, but we delay a visit here until we have located and walked the “Rainbird Trail”.  It is further out of town than we had realised and although there were views through the sea mist and rain back to the town and the cruise ships at the dock, there was little to commend the walk which was very wet under foot. There are totem poles, largely copies of old designs on display in various parks, but the museum houses the oldest collection of originals.  These have been collected from abandoned village sites around the area and this was well worth the small entrance fee.  We stood for some time admiring the exhibits on display here and learning something about the history of totem carving and the various forms the poles take – out of the rain!

We followed the riverside path, past a stunningly beautiful sculpture of a salmon making its way upstream.  The sculpture is over 2 metres long and covered in tiny iridescent ceramic tiles that glisten with water.  From here it is a short walk to the former red light district of Creek Street, now the home of boutique style shops catering for the cruise ship visitors.  Constructed largely from timber the buildings are built on stilts over the rushing water of Ketchikan Creek.

One of the properties is used as an exhibition space and museum of the former trade carried on inside. I was invited to enter but with Mary waiting in the rain I thought best to decline!

By now the rain is even heavier and we return to the Voldendam to escape the deluge and to enjoy a hot drink!

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