We also headed to the Totem Heritage Center to learn about totem poles. I’d like to say I learned something, but I mostly learned how to find Holmes in rooms and corners:) (And the museum wasn’t even that big.)

Holmes burst around the corner and into another room out of sight…to which I found him sidled up between two ladies watching a movie. And believe me, he was so proud of himself:)

Our afternoon trip was perfectly paired with calm water and the smooth vibration of the boat engine…Holmes had a delightful nap! (And I relished in holding him the whole time.) We watched everyone else watching everything else (whales!) and enjoyed just ‘being’ on the water.

We got off the boat and got into a van for a land tour just for us, so we picked up Frank and Meryl for some fresh air (not helpful). Here lies a creek meets tidal slough at high tide on a surprisingly hot day, where we were to see black bears feasting on salmon. There were no bears. However, there was a person convinced that baby black bears were cuddled up in a tree, at best it was an eagle’s nest.

Meryl bounced back and so we headed into town (down a long flight of steps) and across a boardwalk (over another tidal slough) to climb trees in yet another Whale Park.

Duck tour of Ketchikan!

It was a total tourist trap of an event and it was an absolute highlight of the trip!

Lumberjack axe included! While I wish the flu on no one, I did enjoy sharing a room with Holmes while Frank and Meryl quarantined in the other room.

We’re all standing and breathing fresh air! Xanna left on an earlier flight to Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau…and then Anchorage. We actually made it home in Seattle before her!

In Sitka, we headed out toward the end of the road to a former pulp mill turned bear sanctuary. Each circular habitat is 2/3 of an acre, which is boggling to think that that much pulp swirled around in there at once. Most fun discovery: the bears knew sign language!

With bears who didn’t care:) We did!

We learned about taking care of birds at the Sitka Raptor Center!

We got a roast chicken, so we of course had to wish on the wishbone! Holmes won:)

On our last evening in Sitka, we headed to the beach to enjoy our bubble wands from the Fourth of July parade. (I tried to capture all the bubbles, but the view took hold!)