Troop 248 Alaskan Adventure Update: Day Five

(From Scoutmaster David Matzen)

I forgot to tell, the day ended with the traditional Sitka’s stay of  “Uncle Davey’s Bedtime Stories” AKA: The reading of the Daily Sitka Sentinel’s “Police Blotter”.  (Ask our traveling Scout about it).

The morning started off early with a breakfast of cold cereal, fresh baked cinnamon rolls by Scott Spear. Then off the go “two blocks” to the big blue bus of Sitka Sound Adventures for a morning of sea kayaking. The owners, John and Alison Dunlap, met us with their guides, who fitted us with our skirts, got our paddles and walked us through the how to’s of kayaking. Once we were done with the instructions, we were all experts kayakers.

The kayaks were slipped into the bay behind the Centennial Hall, and off we all went. The seas were calm, the weather held back any rain and for over two hours we went out to sea, rolling in the swells, paddling past the end of the Sitka airport, and having  an Alaska Airlines 737 fly right very very low over our heads.

Out to a few small islands, bouncing around in the seas, watching the eagles fly over, enjoying some overcast and bright skies.

On the way back three of four huge Stellar Sea Lions popped up right in front of our kayaks. Our guide said these were around 1,200 pounds each.  All of a sudden our nice big kayak did not seem so big any more. We stopped paddling and watched the sea lions swim around us.  There huge heads bobbing in the water watching us.

We left the sea lions to their own and paddled back to the marina. Thanking our wonderful guides for a fun and morning at sea, our group disbursed to go visit this small friendly town.  Only one small cruise ship as anchored off shore, so not too many “tourist” in town. We found our by one of our guides we were not “tourist”, but “travelers”, and tourist only spend a short time in town, only a few hours rushing around trying to do everything and buy jewelry, were a traveler stays, goes at a slower pace, enjoys various activities and gets to meet the local people. All of which we have been doing.

A lunch of chili and down the road we headed to the Sitka Historical Park.  On the way we found  a creek filled with hundreds or thousands of salmon fighting to get up the stream at the Sheldon Jackson Hatchery, and many more fins breaking the water of the bay trying to fit their way up, and even more jumping two or three feet in the air waiting their turn.

A short walk passed the Sheldon Jackson Museum (which we will visit over the next two days), to the Sitka Historical Park with more than a dozen totem poles, and a nice display if Tlingit art and history.  There are a half dozen resident artist who do wood carving, metal work, basketry, and weaving.  Unfortunately today was an off day for most of the artist, but tomorrow they will all be back.

A nice walk through the nice trails and we can to the Sitka Raptor Center. Our guide Zack, an Eagle Scout from a troop here in Ketchikan gave us a nice tour of the center. The large indoor flight center where eagles are placed to built up their strength to fly, and hopefully released (of which they rehab and  release over 100 each year).  A nice video was shown of the work they do in their clinic and training program, then “Helena” was brought out, a 2 and a half year old eagle with deformed lower beak. The handler showed us about the eagle, his life span (up to 50 years), weights 10 – 11 pounds at adult. The scouts asked several  great questions, then off to  the outside pens.  One with a golden eagle, crows, several hawks, owls and of course Bald Eagles.  Zach, our guide released us, to the gift shop, but remained around to keep answering our questions.

Back down the trails, a short stop at the Sitka recreation center for some showers, and then a nice dinner hosted by Troop No. 44 of Sitka and joined with Troop No. 700 of Juneau. The troops just came back from a three-day hike up the dormant volcano of Mount Edgecombe.

Tonight will finish with another episode of “Uncle Davey’s Bedtime Stories”.

Tomorrow is another full day of back to the Sitka Historical Park, a show by the New Archangels dance, and performance by the Na’ He Ya Dancers, off to the “Fortress of the Bears” and then finish the day with  2 and a half hours on the boat with John Dunlap for a sightseeing tour .  Between off of this we will have time to do some shopping and see the many other sights of Sitka.

Once again, a wonderful day here. We found out that on Thursday the 356 foot three mast ship Russian Sailing Ship “Pallada” will be in port only a short walk for our ferry dock, so we will try to get a tour of it while we wait for our ferry ride to Juneau.

Oh yes, in addition to this update here is something fun:

1 gallon of milk: $5.29
Corn on the cob: $1.49 EACH
1 Dozen Eggs: $2.39
Romain lettuce: $2.29 each
Apples: $2.29 a pound