A few memories of pretty places we’ve been so far.
Memories and Photographs are all we have left of life; enjoy every moment of the journey. ~Tim
Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan-3 ports of call sailing.
During the evening hour, not only does the Pacific air get cold, but the water is almost as cold; I think I could have gone swimming had I not used better judgment. Pacific water, with a hard breeze blowing, makes it a combo for being very old. Notice I was wearing a marshmallow jacket to keep warm; my legs were icy cold. The beach is stunning, pretty at any time of day. Tais beach caml left me wanting to return on a day
Ports of call while sailing up Stephans Passage, floating to the Glaciers.
These little towns we visited along the way absolutely depend a lot on how the cruise ships sail to these ports of call. Most locals depend on their businesses to support themselves. A lot of them just live here and survive on their own. Looking at the shoreline, we can see how many boats and floatplanes are here; there are no roads.
AA feww random random ships we saw while saailling
Most of the ships we saw were cargo ships, all in the shipping lanes.
Most of the ships we saw were cargo ships, all in the shipping lanes.
I had my long lens attached and couldn’t get off so quickly, so I took 3 shots. With it on.
A night on the streets of Seattle.
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How many amazing moments are we lost in when seeing the Pacific Coast? It is enough to make it seem unreal at times. From the landscapes laid out to the massive Pacific Ocean pounding the coastline, the two meeting is a mesmerizing place to be.
Stiika, Alaska”s visit
While anchored in Sitka Bay, Alaska, the ship was positioned so that we faced the Queen Elizabeth. This impeded all views from our balcony stateroom, a really boring view of the rusty iron ship. Sitka offered a port of call, but we had to transport all passengers to town. Having to do this delayed moving from the ship to town. Saying this, Sitka was the least convenient for porting and calling.
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The ranch house was a locally owned farm/ranch / retail outlet in the area, feeding the locals and travelers. After enjoying a meal in their restaurant, one can go visit the freshly cut steaks grown on their ranch. a fantastic place to visit. Tell them the FTR team sent you.
Anacourtes, Washington, looms in our distance.
If you ever pass through Snoqualmie Falls, be sure to dine at the Glenn Falls Inn, located overlooking the falls. A dining experience you will want to remember.
Onward as we roll North West
A very pretty stream over a bridge leading to the original Ketchikan. We learned there are 2 Ketchikans: the old and the new, the new located near the docks, ship side. Discovering a little path over the water led us to a plethora of original shops run by locals. (The original Ketchikan). They have served this area for many years; do not miss the ‘old Ketchikan’ if you visit; it will be a visit to remember.
Alaska’s Glaciers revealed
From the Alaska shores up the Stephens Passage Canal, the Seattle Museum of Art and Glass, featuring Chihuly Glass Museum art at its finest, to enjoy.
California’s beauty is yet to come.
Liggett, California, the junction, where we finally picked up US 1 south on the PCH.
We arrived on the California coast from Oregon by the time we got to where we were heading; nightfall set in, plunging everything into a blackout for the night. We extended our night and pushed it to camp just south of the Highway of the Giants. The following morning, after coffee and a chat with the RV park manager, we were convinced to return north again before getting on us 1 or the PCH. So glad we did; it was sunny, dry, and warm for the tour through the Giant Redwood Forest.
Late in the afternoon, our tour of the redwood giants concluded as the camper rolled back south again to Leggett, where US 1 officially began. Soon, we were out of the forests, back on 301, heading to US1. This tour down US 1 really slowed us down; we did not expect the toll it would take on us and on the RV as we rolled down that curvy, winding road.
These views are from Highway US 1 along the California coast, well known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Any pull-off or turn yields wild views of the Pacific from rocky precipices. So many places to explore and camp; more time is needed to really enjoy this vacation down the PCH. If you have never seen the coast, visit it.
The tour of the Giant Forest was worth every moment spent. The forests of the Redwoods are only 1 percent of what remained after the harvesting of these giants throughout the history of settlement here. Simply put, these are the biggest trees I have ever seen in my life, I think, because there are not any bigger.
Still sorting, editing, and posting… check back for more FTR Pix® Gallery.