Time to move, via the ferry MV Malaspina, from Petersberg to Juneau. Seagulls escort the boat this time, probably looking for a handout.  As the ferry approached Juneau, both eagles and seagulls provided the escort. Juneau bills itself the Bald Eagle capital of SE Alaska. I believe it; I think they are as common here as Vultures are in areas down south.

MV Malaspina

As it turns out, I boarded the slow boat to Juneau. Vickie and Jerry were on a more direct route and arrived after about 12 hours. My route went first to Kake (another small town on a small island) and then Sitka. Total time: 24 hours.  I love ferry travel so I was thankful that I inadvertently booked this longer route. The fare was the same, although it would double if I actually got off at Sitka and spent time here.

At each stop I can walk and feed Tango. He is such a good sport about living in the car while I travel and snooze in the lounges upstairs. The last time, I left him in the car with some peanut butter as a special treat. This is a big change for him after running free at our Petersberg campground and walking 1.6 miles around the loop each day. 

A few ferry passengers are familiar. Our paths cross here and there, at campgrounds, in the small towns, waiting in line for the ferry. We might get on at the same place, but pull off at different ones; several people (in RVs) that I saw in Petersburg got off in Sitka, while I am going on to Juneau. Despite familiar faces here and there, I have not really clicked with anyone besides Vickie and Jerry, who I will see in again in Juneau. I think we have 4 or 5 days overlap there and are camping near each other once again in the Mendenhall Campground (NFS). The campground has all the amenities, like bathrooms and a shower. For a camper, this is like a 4-star hotel, yet a tent site is only $5/night for seniors! The campground has some views of the Mendenhall Glacier and is not far from the Visitor Center and trails. Mendenhall Glacier is the “most visited spot in Southeast Alaska” so that means more people too, but it is still early enough that I will miss the big crowds. I am easing into touristy stuff after my rugged experiences in Wrangell and Petersberg. After 10 days in the Mendenhall Campground, I  have another 4 days in Juneau and will likely move to another spot in the area.

View of Mendenhall Glacier from campground! We are close.

Mendenhall Campground is also close to town; not just any old town but the capital of Alaska. From what I saw looking for a grocery store last night, Juneau is an amazing place with reasonably priced gas and food.

Juneau, AK

I hope to find fresh fish in town. My experience so far is that fish are scooped out of the boats and sent immediately to the local processing plants. I have not found any way to buy off the boats. Salmon season, however, is not up to speed yet. I will be on the Kenai Peninsula – famous for its salmon – when that happens.

I had a small drama- I lost my phone in Petersburg. I had been thinking for several days what might happen if I lost my phone, and I think that I willed it to happen. Sometimes (often), I sabotage myself. I brought my two older phones with me on the trip just in case, but the one I charged up before I did a computer chat with Verizon (via the Petersberg coffee house Wi-Fi) didn’t have a compatible SIM card.  Well, it turns out that the only Verizon store in Alaska is in Juneau, at the Mendenhall Mall. I found it this morning and spent about 45 minutes there while they changed out the SIM card with one that will work in Alaska. Things are different here and getting the old phone activated was excruciating. It is done, though, and I am happy to catch up with my emails, FB, and the news.

The forecast for the week is RAIN. If you cannot find peace with the rain, don’t ever come to SE Alaska. It is a rain forest and rain is inevitable.  Since I am right near a city, however, I have lots of things to keep me busy: museums, glacier visitor center, art galleries, even a movie if I get super bored. McDonald’s for hot coffee and sausage biscuits. I have been slowly working my way north, from remote settings towards the benefits of civilization. In the future I will repeat that cycle several more times. I am happy when I am far away from people and amenities and happy when I return.

Downtown Juneau, near the cruise ship docks