Sunday, October 18, 2020

Misty Fjords Floatplane & Bering Sea Crab Boat - Ketchikan, AK 2010

We had a little time to walk the town before our first tour. 







we walked through a small park with beautiful flowers and cute benches











I booked a Misty Fjords floatplane trip with Michelle at Island Wings. It was a clear and hot day so no mist, but fantastic views. We were on her Beaver with another CC couple and with only 4 of us we each got our own rows on the plane. Perhaps Michelle isn’t a morning person, but we found her a bit “bristly”. She pointed out the salmon jumping and Greg asked what kind as we had learned there are 5 kinds of salmon and she answered “Salmon, didn’t I say salmon?” I was looking out the window and listening to her commentary and I turned to look at her as she was very interesting. She says to me and not in a “nice way” that I should be looking out the window at the beautiful scenery instead of watching her, “after all you paid a lot of money to go on this tour”. She was eating her breakfast and I think she thought I was watching her, but I was looking at the scenery out the windshield in her direction.

She pointed out some mountain goats that I didn’t see. (I think the wing was blocking my view) Since I didn’t see them I used my binoculars to try to find them. She says the reason I can’t find them is because I’m trying to use binoculars and they are useless in a plane. So, she makes another pass and says if you don’t see them now you should get your eyesight checked. They were there, but really just dots with the naked eye-----our pictures with super zoom did confirm they were indeed mountain goats. 

One of the other passengers was making too much noise with his mouthpiece and she just said “whoever is doing that it’s not acceptable”. She did seem to warm as the flight went on and we felt safe and the views were awesome. The landing was fun and we got to get out and walk around. We picked some blueberries and salmonberries and Michelle took photos with our cameras of both couples.


here comes our plane! right in front of this cruise ship
she made it!







De Havilland Beaver
Greg & Neil
taking off - I'm in the front seat







fishermen










waterfall




Michelle, the pilot telling me to look out the window











I drank the water here!








we picked blueberries
we picked Salmon Berries....yum!
don't eat these










me getting ready to board
















Mountain Goats
Mountain Goats
Mountain Goats













the airstrip for regular planes

flying by the marina & town




Michelle & Shona of Island Wings



the Crab boat

We then headed to the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s boat. I don’t think there is a bad seat on the boat as they make sure you all get to see everything. Very fun and interesting. Even if you don’t watch Deadliest Catch I’m sure it would be of interest. They told lots of stories of the boat and crabbing and showed us samples of each type of fishing. There was a box crab that they passed around and they let us pose next to the King Crab one of the deck hands held. They let you hold the snow crab. They also had brought up a couple of octopus and a sunflower sea star that was really cool. We saw about 20 eagles, some Dall’s purpose, jellyfish and lots of salmon jumping. Very good time.

Greenhorns








baiting the pots




King Crab


measure for the crab







Box Crab
box crab


sunflower sea star
octopus








Eagle Nest












Island Wings from the crab boat


Finally, a relaxing sea day! It was Greg’s birthday and I had chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the cabin. We played bingo in the morning and headed to the Pub lunch served in the Bayou Café. Had a couple orders of fish and chips and bangers and mash. Delish as always! 

We got our things packed for disembarkation the next day and headed to the final bingo session. We had skipped bingo the other days as viewing the glaciers and wildlife had us ignoring the usual things to do around the ship. Drum roll please……I won the final jackpot of $1,750.00!!!!!! Boy, did that top off an already great vacation! 

That evening we had reservations for the Bayou Café for Greg’s birthday. I guess I should have reminded them when we made the reservation as they didn’t acknowledge it. He did get balloons by our cabin door. The food was as fantastic as we remembered, except for the chocolate pecan dessert which was hard and dry. It was moist and fudgy last time and to die for. The steak and the lobster were superb and the appetizer sampler platter very tasty. We attended the evening’s entertainment which was good.

Tomorrow, we tour Vancouver.

Ketchikan – Bering Sea Crab Boat https://photos.app.goo.gl/5rLLJ2gaHuUFvHiR8]

Ketchikan – Misty Fjords float plane https://photos.app.goo.gl/2uv4qi8274V6gDdV8

Ketchikan town https://photos.app.goo.gl/pNDvAxbY5FtzJ6jMA

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