Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Last port as we get into Ketchikan at 10am. It is the warmest and sunniest day we have encountered on our holiday. We walked around the town that grew from logging and timber mills until this was stopped for environmental reasons. We were able to have short sleeved shirts and no parkas or layers today.
We saw more totem poles than we have seen anywhere else in Alaska.
Midday we met our tour guide to go snorkelling at Mountain Point. Strange going snorkelling when there is snow on the mountains behind us. We are so grateful it is warm and sunny as Ketchikan has one of the highest rainfalls in Southern Alaska.
It was hard work just getting into our 7mm wetsuits, hoods, booties and gloves. Michael also takes a weight belt so he can free dive. The suits are buoayant so hard to dive deep without one.
We climbed down the slope to the rocks and put our fins and masks on. We got into the water and swam around the first lot of rocks. Jacki's mask kept taken in sea water and it is not pleasant. The instructor came over and realized the mask was broken. Whilst he went to get another one from a store of extra equipment they keep at the beach the other instructor showed us 2 types of starfish. A purple starfish and an orange one that smells like garlic.
Second mask on we head off again. Jacki's mask is still taking in water and won't get a seal properly. Jacki panics a little and sees it as a bad omen. Having an anxiety attack in freezing cold Alaskan waters and large kelp is not good! After a half hour in the water with 2 failed masks she decides she will head back to shore and explore the eagle nests and the rocky outcrops whilst enjoying the sunshine. Michael and Kirsten snorkelled for another 45 minutes. We all agree snorkelling in a full wetsuit
They saw more starfish, jellyfish and fish. No Octopus today.
We returned back to the Snorkel Alaska headquarters where we got changed. Getting out of the suit is even harder than getting into the suit. Kirsten decided to get a snorkelling Alaska hoodie so she can brag about snorkelling in Alaska.
On the way back to the ship the bus driver collecting a metal pole as we got close to the ship. It was a tight turn and she was trying to avoid the cyclist beside her - which she did successfully. The Port Authority came to inspect and since we were close to the ship we decided to get off and walk the rest off the way. It was now 4pm and we had to be back on board by 5.30pm.
Kirsten's hair looked delightful after snorkelling and becoming all tangled. She complained about the smell from wearing the wetsuit hood.
Her first priority, even before lunch at 4pm in the afternoon, was a shower. Shows how wet and smelly she felt given her love for food.
- comments