We are back. Took a break yesterday from blogging for a couple of reasons. Firstly we decided to spend the evening out, allowing someone else to sort the groceries and do the cooking. The result was a delicious local fish dinner and a bottle of wine (that is not conducive to trying to then write sensible words). Ludvig’s Bistro turned out to be a good choice, although a week into this trip we are still surprised by the cost of living in Alaska.

Secondly, the last two days have been spent simply enjoying the great outdoors. No new historical or cultural information to share today, sometimes it is time to just “be” and take in the beauty and peace of the landscape and environment. We hiked Old Sitka National Park, walked the boardwalks laid by the Forestry Service over the “muskeg” and watched for wildlife and birds. The magnitude of it all is quite breathtaking.

In the wild and at the bird rehabilitation centre, set up to treat and release injured birds of prey, we were treated to soaring Bald Eagles, a golden eagle, deer, sea lions, woodpeckers and all manner of plants.

We made a valiant attempt to get to high ground so we could get a birdseye view of the bay but the weather was not kind. The sun shone at sea level but the cloud cover higher up was murky and all encompassing.

However, we did find hard evidence to answer the perennial question…..

“does a bear sh… in the woods?”

answer: Yes but he also sh..s all over the walking trail.’

This evening we have reached Juneau, the state capital of Alaska. For both of us this is the shortest flight we have ever taken – 24 mins in total. Juneau, like Sitka, can only be reached by sea or air.

A new location to explore.