Daily Didactic
Morning began with another awesome breakfast at our Sitka B&B. We chatted around the table with Todd and Cori and the other guests until around 9:00, and then began the process of reloading the bus. We made a swing through downtown Sitka for some last minute shopping and a cup of coffee, before heading out to the ferry terminal for our early afternoon departure. We checked in and then headed the less than a mile up the road for a walk on the beach out of Starrigavan campground. It was another gorgeous day in Sitka and we walked the beach until we had to get the bus in line for loading.

Today's marine vessel was the Fairweather, which is one of the Alaksa Marine Highway's fast ferries. It certainly got us to Juneau faster than our previous trusty steed, the Taku, but at the cost of a solarium and a much of any outdoor viewing opportunity. The Fairweather is much more like a commuter ferry, and Theresa and Brian are not necessarily sold. We sat with Todd and Cori in the forward observation area, reading, drawing and catching up on web pages. A little over four hours later we were pulling into Juneau.

We have only been to Juneau for a four hour plane layover before, toady we were looking at a comfy overnight. Brian's brother Al had recommended the Silver Bow Inn downtown, which turned out to be a great spot right in the middle of town. We grabbed a bite to eat at the Hanger, walked up the hill, stumbled across the Governor's mansion, and eventually returned to our room for the night.

Another sunny morning in Sitka...		...at our B&B by the lake
Downtown for a cup of coffee and a trail book		Theresa says we need these at home
Theresa and Cori in the back of the bus		Alright, time to move on
None		We tried a different trail
A beautiful and flat Sitka Sound		The beach by Starrigavan creek
The Mosquito Cove Trail		Back in line, this time for the Fairweather
Heading back out through the narrows north of Sitka		It was more than even Brian had bargained for
Todd and Cori keeping an eye on our route		As close as it gets to being on a forward deck on the Fairweather
The fast ferry is a catamaran and throws a mean plume of water		The sad little solarium on the back...small, loud and the view is blocked by a solid railing
Shouldn't that be 'your inner shipmate'?		Mendenhall Glacier over the ferry terminal in Auke Bay
Fireweed on the road to town		The front of the Silverbow Inn
The side of the wonderful Silverbow Inn		The tide
One of two enormous ferries in town		They really need to get the C back formally
Alaska welcomes us...		...at the governor's mansion

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