Juneau

Wednesday found us motoring up through the Gastineau Channel to Juneau, where we found a slip at Harris Harbor just north of town and beyond the Doughlas Bridge (Whew—that was a close one!). Sirena came in later in the afternoon. We had a good time visiting aboard their boat.

Of course it has been raining a bit. We trudged to the Laundromat in a downpour. We bagged our clean and dry laundry in plastic bags for the home trip.( I am putting a small plastic bag over my purse on these weepy days.)

Juneau is small and isolated for a state capitol but it has a few things going for it. Its setting is gorgeous between the channel and several high mountains. The big cruise ships come here.

On Saturday, an overcast but not rainy day, we took the bus downtown and then the tram up to Mt. Roberts. We had a good time viewing the visitor’s center and hiking the alpine trails. As we were descending the mountain we could see the USS Juneau coming into port with seamen in their dress white standing on the decks of the ship.

We stopped for dinner at the Hanger Restaurant before walking up to see the ship. On the way to the Coast Guard Pier we spied out Dutch friends at a neighboring dock! They had all the necessary repairs done in Wrangell and were now continuing their voyage.

The city was having a ceremony for the USS Juneau with band and presentations. The WWII light cruiser Juneau was sunk at the Battle of Guadalcanal. The 5 Sullivan brothers were on board and were killed. For the brave and tragic story visit the website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_(CL-52)

Would you believe it—It’s raining! Today, Sunday, July 27, I defrosted the small deep freezer and worked on the blog.

Mark is trying to figure out if we can make it up to Skagway or out to Sitka. I checked on ferries and cars. There are no rental cars available and dogs must be kept in a car or kenneled on the ferry. If we took our boat it would be a long and tricky…and probably rainy. So now the thought is to turn around and head back South were it might be warmer and drier. Tomorrow we are planning on touring the USS Juneau and buying groceries.

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