Kodiak, Alaska-Martin Day 5

Day 05 - Tuesday - June 1, 2010 - Kodiak, Alaska

Sunrise: 5:18 AM AKDT Sunset: 10:57 PM AKDT Length of Day: 17h 39m

Our plan was to rent a car today to see more of the island and also visit the famous Kodiak Coast Guard Station, the largest in the world.

Kathy called at 8:15 to say that the weather report was for deteriorating conditions, it was 41º and light rain, with wind gusts of 15-20 mph. Their recommendation was to cancel the car and hope for a better day.

She invited us to have Kathy’s special blueberry sourdough pancakes later at 10:00. We had a glass of juice and a cup of coffee at the hotel and then started to explore the northern part of our neighborhood.

I was trying to find a good vantage point for overlook photos of the whole city so we climbed up the hill. Most of the area is private property but a local gentleman told us we were welcome to go through his lawn into the brush if we wanted to.

We walked a short way and then continued on toward the Cruise Ship Harbor and found a huge Princess Line ship docked. Not many tourists had come ashore that early but we saw buses ready to take them to see Kodiak.

Just before 10:00 we hustled back to the Harbor and went to the Café Capella III for a delicious breakfast with the Martins. As usual, Skipper waited under the table, just in case a small morsel would fall his way.

After our meal and more lessons about boats, weather, and sailing in general, we left the Martins at 12:30 and headed back to the hotel to get our rain gear on.

We walked downtown towards the Baranov Museum, but were diverted by a flock of Bald Eagles soaring above the Star of Kodiak, a cannery vessel.

There were at least 11 eagles, males and females with several juveniles. Even from as far away as the other side of the channel these USA National Birds were very impressive.

After a few dozen photos, we met Kathy and Skipper at the Baranov Historical Society Museum, once the home of a Russian fur pelt depository in the early 1800’s.

The museum houses many historical artifacts from the Native Alaskan people, the Russian fur trappers and traders, as well as incredible photographs of the history of the area as far back as the 1860’s.

We left the museum at 3:30 and started back to our hotel. We like to walk through the harbor and found two fishermen from Kodiak Island Charters (gofishing@ak.net) cleaning their catch of the day.

They were eager to talk to us and told us they were sport fishermen and had taken three gentlemen out from the cruise ship for the day.

The men caught fish using herring for bait, but the tourists did not want to keep the fish, so the captain and his mate were taking advantage of their generosity.

Back at the hotel at 4:15, we looked at photos and Gennie began to type the journal. We met Vic and Kathy for dinner at 6:00. Tonight’s choice was at El Chicano Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.

After dinner we went back to the boat to watch an Alaskan satirical documentary and have popcorn. The Martins also challenged us to a game of Wii Trivial Pursuit.

We walked back to the hotel at 11:00 in a heavy mist, but I think I saw the sun and some blue sky today, if only for a brief instant. Gennie says it was just a figment of my positive imagination!

Accommodations: Best Western Kodiak Inn

Interesting account of Kodiak; I was there on the alaska state ferry about 20 years ago but only at night. Much less traveling than most of your trips

Day 13: Azores & Madeira: Portugal's Unspoiled Archipelagos

Island Beauties

Island Beauties

Island Beauties

Island Beauties

Island Beauties

Previous Next

Day 13 - Saturday, April 22, 2022 - Depart for U.S.

The hotel prepared a box breakfast for us as we had to be in the lobby way before the breakfast room was open.

Last night we found out that our departure flight back to...

Continue Reading Day 13