5/7 – Ketchikan with 5 other ships – Ay yi yi!

Early morning in the gym – we actually see the interesting fisherman guy from the tender out on deck and manage to see his boat’s name on the back of his jacket – the research is on! After the gym we quickly get ourselves ready and out on deck for a pretty sail in and a very quick disembarkation as we have a 45 minute walk down to the rental car place. And, there are going to be 5 other ships here today! Yikes!

The NCL Bliss is already here, but they are at the far pier – a new one way up the coast with a 25+ minute drive into town. As we start to make our way through the port area, we see hundreds of Bliss passengers streaming through the shops and the boardwalk. We are so outta here! The only cool thing bout all these ships is that it will be a Holland America Day! The Westerdam (us), the Eurodam and the Konigsdam will all be here today. A reunion of sorts – but one in which we are definitely not interested.

It’s a nice, if not boring walk down to the rental car agency. When we arrive, the agent told us she was wondering if we would come in! Well, yeah, you know, it’s a walk – and of course they do have a shuttle service! Ha! Guess we sort of missed that in the booking. It was just more trekking for us – we didn’t mind, but we’ll take them up on it for the return trip for certain.

In our little car and out on the road, we immediately head away from the port/town area and out toward the wilderness and the Ward Lake area where there are a host of trails running along Ward Creek and around the lake. A perfect day to be out in the wilderness and away from the crowds. And as it turns out, it is perfect! Still a part of the Tongass forest, but the temperate rain forest part, we literally only encounter 4 people on the first 2 miles of our hike through the gorgeous forest.

There are lots of informational signs that explain the forest – the difference between the Western Hemlock and Sitka Spruce, what an Open Muskeg area is (basically a bog with mosses), how to identify the Alaska Yellow Cedar that can grow to about 100 feet tall. It is a lovely trail up and down the hills, alongside the rushing creek, and filled with interesting moss-covered branches and logs that resemble different creatures.

As we continue to meander about the trails, we meet a lovely local woman, Patty, who joins us for our trek, pointing out all sorts of different limb figures along the way, asking us what we thought they looked like: “Open up Ed, what do you see?” What a hoot. She is (as is easily obvious from her questions and comments) a psychologist, has worked all over Alaska for years, including out in the far reaches with the Native population, and is just a joy with whom to wander through the forest. Delightful company for the end of our creek trail walk.

We take leave of our new friend Patty in the parking lot and head out to the lake, grabbing an empty picnic table for our little snacky lunch that we have put together from my left-over filet from last night and rolls we grabbed from the buffet this morning. Perfect lunch picnic out by the lake!

Then it is off to circumnavigate Lake Ward – yet another wonderful hike through the forest with beautiful glimpses of the water all along the trail. Lots more limb figures and interesting root formations. Rushing waters of the creek that feeds the lake. Again – absolutely no people. Just a wonderful time enjoying nature and the fresh Alaskan air.

There are more informational signs – one that explains the Devil’s Club plant and their spiritual and medicinal value to the Alaskan Natives – and some excellent examples of the plant itself right by the sign. More skunk cabbages, as well as more beautiful lake scenes.

Finishing our circuit, we head back up the creek trail, listening to the roaring water as it cascades down a rock-waterfall area.

There are more great forest and creek views, more weird moss, tree limb and root structures – and just more general fabulous forest hiking.

Toward the Ward Creek Trailhead, near where our car was parked, we stayed on the trail that took us to the Last Chance Campground – which was uninteresting, except for the needed restroom facilities, some excellent root formations and the trail guide that had obviously been used as for target practice!

Instead of heading right back to town, we ventured further out into the wilderness to the Connell Lake Dam area, hoping to hike some more there. While serene and gorgeous, unfortunately, that particular trail was brutal – totally filled with ankle twisting rocks and roots. Rather than risk life and limb, we only hiked a few meters up the trail before turning back and making due with some lovely pictures of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Done with that aborted hike, it is still far too early to return to the ship, so we strike out to the North, along Clover Passage to the Settlers Cove State Recreational Site where we find some more great hiking trails amongst the tall, tall Spruce Pines. This trail takes us past a great waterfall then curves through more of the Tongass Forest. Mostly on a winding boardwalk with plenty of log-built stairs, it’s a great hike through the massive trees and along the coastline.

Finally time to head back to town, we drop the car and get a ride back to the ship, chatting away with the shuttle driver guy who is so nice and has wonderful stories about his Native wife and life here in Ketchikan among the tourists. Between Patty and our shuttle driver, we’ve had some great and candid conversations about living here in the wilds – and not so wilds! – of Alaska.

Back aboard, we watch from the balcony – and the treadmill – as we sail away, down the strait on our way to Prince Rupert.

At dinner we actually find Dade – our favorite waiter from the Oosterdam 2 years ago! We are so excited. He’s been here all along – wouldn’t you know it! And we’ve never been in his section. Such a bummer – but then again, even if we had found him with the hostess staff on this ship, we’d still have never been able to return to his section. Nuff said. So, anyhow, we had a fantastic dinner and of course had our origami created just for us: a Roo in honor of our AAC pals down under! Super fun.