Sitka!!!

Joe's camping trip on the ferry

We're here! I can't believe it, but we're here! We've been here just short of two weeks and already if feels like home. Let me start at the beginning.

The view from our living room

The airport.  It even has a parking lot!!!

Joe left Bellingham aboard the Columbia on a Friday afternoon. He sailed straight through to Ketchikan. It was a day and a half trip to get there with no cell service because they were sailing through Canadian waters. Since Joe had to wait for his car to be loaded, he was one of the last tent campers to board. There were only a few decks where you could pitch your tent and he got the very last spot. He duct taped his tent to the deck and railing, but unfortunatly he was in wind tunnel and didn't make it through the night. Once they got out in open waters he could hear and feel his tent being ripped from the deck by the crazy winds. Two women from the tent next to him went over to help him. They held his tent down while he unloaded it and then he had to go and find a chair to sleep in for the rest of the night. He found a really comfy chair and slept great! In the light of day the next morning he realized that he had actually slept in someones personal chair! He met the owner later that morning and she told him he could sleep in it again if he wanted to. Joe spent a whole day in Ketchikan exploring tide pools and hiking with the same two gals who helped him with his tent the night before. He had his car with him so he was able to drive around and see pretty much everything. From Ketchikan he boarded a smaller ferry called the Taku. They made stops in Wrangle and Kake before heading into Sitka. Actually, they reached the East side of the island and had to sail all the way up and around the North side of the island to get to Sitka. It was a long trip, almost 4 days, but he made it safe and sound and full of stories.

It's not much of a car rental, but it's something!

My trip to Sitka was less eventful. Sam and I flew to Seattle and then it was a 2 hour flight to Sitka. Sam was awesome and fell asleep before take off and woke up during landing. That sure makes it easy on Mama! Because I had so much luggage and Joe's car was still so packed, we had to call a cab to take us to the hotel. The airport is actually on a seperate island, Japonski, which is also home to the coast guard station, Mt. Edgecumb boarding school, the second hospital, and The University of Alaska Southeast. It's super close to Baranof though, just a short drive over the bridge.

Sitka as seen from Japonski Island

Lincoln Street

We had to stay in a hotel for the first 2 nights we were here since our house wasn't available until the 1st of the month. We spent our first few days just walking around (since we couldn't all fit it Joe's super packed car) and even found a furniture store! We found furniture we liked, bought it, and scheduled it to be delievered after we moved in. (Everything has been delivered by now except the couch. And don't get me started on that fiasco!) Our first day here there was a cruise ship in port so the streets were very crowed. I didn't realize at the time that it wasn't always that crazy busy. Sitka isn't like Ketchikan or Juneau. Sitka only gets cruise ships twice a week instead of every day like other southeast cities. On most days, you'll still see tourists, mostly old folks and asians, but nothing like the hoardes of people when there's a ship. Lincoln street (the main shopping street) is full of cute shops and eateries. There's also a really cool place called Pioneer Home which Joe thought was an old fort so he went to explore it. Turns out its an old folks home and now he has buddy named Nelson that he goes to visit. I've now met him too and he's very nice. :)

Once our house was ready for us we spent our time cleaning and unpacking. Sam had to sleep in a pack-n-play for the first week until his crib came, but now he finally (at 18 months!!!) has a room of his own, and it's huge! Actually the whole house is pretty big. Sam has a huge play area that spans about a fourth of the living space on the main floor. There's also his bedroom and a bathroom on that floor. Joe and I sleep upstairs in the loft which has worked out great. Downstairs there's a room and bathroom that we'll use for all the guests that have promised us they'll come and visit. We have a nice sized backyard that's fenced so Sam can play. He has to share it with Murphy, our neighbor's golden retreiver, but they're already buds so it works out fine.

Every day we go out and do something. Especially on the nice sunny days which there have been a lot of. Besides shopping, which you know I do a lot of, we've gone hiking, tide pooling, to the Sitka Science Center, and to play group. We have also explored a lot of the beaches. When you get to a trail head or a beach there will be a sign posted if there has been any bear activity. Yesterday we went down to one of the most popular beaches and were playing on the beach with Sam when a guy came down and said "You know there's a bear right there don't you?" pointing to the stand of trees right next to the beach. We never saw him but didn't stick around until we did. Sam would be a juicy chicken nugget to a brown bear so we headed out. Today we took a picnic down to a different beach, and even though there wasnt a bear sign posted, I was still paniking every time I heard a stick crack! I'm sure I'll adjust, but it's still scary to me right now.

We have gotten together with Melissa and Jack (the 22 month old boy I will begin babysitting once school starts). Sam and Jack get along great so I think it will work out. I've also met with another gal who has an 8 month old boy I will watch 2 days a week. I was hesitant to take on another kiddo, but I think 2 days a week will be a good fit. I've already been approached by 2 other moms at play group asking if I was willing to take on more kids.  I think I'll wait and see how I handle 2 and 3 at a time before I say yes to another.

This blog post is mostly just a recap of the last two weeks, plus a whole lot of pictures. Once we get internet at our house it will be easier to post each week in more detail. I hope the pictures give you a good idea of where we're living. It sure is beautiful and smells incredible (my favorite part!) and has running water and booze! I can't ask for too much more! Please come visit!

 

Watching airplanes

 

Sam's first starfish!

Tide Pooling!

No kisses for mama!

Running running running!

Check out the spawning salmon!

More running!

 

We see a lot of these signs!

 

 

Sun star!

 

Another thing Mountain Village didn't have!

Driving Halibut Point Road towards our house

All those little spikes you see are salmon!  So crazy!